United labor bulletin., 1911-05-18
GARMENT WORKERS
GIVE RECEP TON
Fifteenth ANNIVERSARY cELEBRAT-
ED BY GRATEFUL ORGAN
lZATI0N.

Last Friday night in Eagles hall, the
Garment Workers union celebrated its
ment and reception, followed by dancing.
The hall was we'll filled when, shortly af-
ter o'clock, musicians from the Musi-
clans union began concert. Following
this Charles PobIasco announced the OBJ
ject of the reception was to get the
friends Of the Garment Workers together
in meeting of general rejoicing In ceie-
bration of the organization's fifteenth
birthday. He thanked those who had
lent their presence to making the gather
ing enjoyable, and then turned the meet
ing over to Miss Hattie Hutchinson, who
took charge of the program and conduct
ed the entertainment in a most admir-
able way.
The first number was Song of We'll
come" composed by an ex-president, Mrs
Laura Aimbaugh. The song is a parody
on III Be Strong for You." and was
sung by Annett Vidal, Irene Holland. Mrs.
Meredith, Margaret Noonon. Mamie
Hoepke, Alma Salzger and Nora Nc
Coughey. Miss Sadie Adney was the ac-
companist and Charles Scherf director.
Annie Elliott gave brief but concise
history of the organization
Vocal solo. Meet Me Tonight in
DreamldQQ, Dy Jessie lllAOu-
Short talk by Harvey Schamel of the
Cigarmakers, who organized the Gar
ment Workers. Mr.. Schamel was at that
time organizer of the Trades Assembly.
Recitation by Grace Hutchison. The
Little Teacher"
Vocal solo by Miss Rose Jasper. He
Was a Prince" Miss Jasper also rem
dered The Holy City as an encore.
T. NJ. Taylor of the Painters, who as
Sir he Co in
struggle at organization, gave an inter
esting talk.
Miss Cahill gave violin solo,
Charles Scherf gave bass solo
Irene Holland gave recitation en-
titled Sister Ernestine's Beau"
Edith Temple rendered a vocal solo.
sing Me to Sleep
Irene. Hersch closed the program by
rendering a vocal solo entitled Your
Best Friend Is Your Mother"
Miss Edith Temple deserves special
mention for her beautiful rendition OF
Sing Me to Sleep"
Taking the program as a whole it was
well rendered and proved very entertain
ing TO the large membership and the
many friends invited. who were princi-
pally men prominent in the labor move
ment Among them were: President
McLennon and Secretary Hickey OF the
State Federation OF Labor; Organizer
Tustison and Secretary Bedford of the
Trades Assembly; Treasurer Hines of
the Label League, J. A. Conkle of the
Bulletin and T. NJ. Taylor of the Painters.
After the lengthy program was con-
cluded, the large hall was cleared of the
chairs and benches and the remainder of
the evening was given over to dancing,
but the members of the organization
were somewhat handicapped in giving
themselves over to the enjoyment of this
pleasure on account of the lack of male
partners.
Light refreshments were served by the
members in the ante-rooms to the hall
The evenings entertainment was a
most enjoyable affair. such as bring the
men and women in the labor movement
together and make them realize their re-
sponsihility to each other.
The Garment Workers union is now
starting on its sixteenth year of exist
ence and the words of Annie Elliott, the
historian of the evening, deserve repeat
ing at this time:
Garment Workers union. local 1S9.
was organized in the spring of 1896 with
charter membership of 81. The cir
cumstances which led to the organization
of this little band of working women
were rather out of the ordinary. The
firm had been requiring just a little more
work and just little more work for the
same money until We felt that the limit
had been reached, so when the foreman
told us of more work for the same money
We got our heads together and decided
to refuse to do the work unless they paid
us for the same. This was refused us,
so as we finished our bundles of work We
walked out, each and every girl. We
were on strike, and the funny part of it
was, we did not know it A corporation
lawyer would call us agitators, born agi-
tators: but no matter about the name. it
was the game We were after. The most
of us went to our individual homes but a
party of the girls visited the mayor and
told him their troubles. Just why they
went there | never could understand.
! However. he referred them to Mr.. BRAIN
wood. president of the Trades Assembly.
who sent them to the organizer. MIR. Har-
vey Schamel who. in company with Max
Morris and Mr.. Kretlow and committee
of the girls. waited on Mr. Underhill and
succeeded in adjusting the troubles. MIR.
Underhill paying us for the extra work
We then resumed work and the next step
was 10 organize. Mr. Schamel, Max Nor
ris and Mr.. Kretlow kindly assisting. and
these We're the men who taught us to talk
and walk in the labor movement
After organizing we found that our
troubles had Just started; our foreman
was opposed to the union and new fore
lady was Installed who tried to make life
burden for us. She went after the
scalps of all committee women. but we
took David Harum's advice. to do others
before they did us. and in course of time
she was let out through the request of