New-York tribune., 1911-03-12


camnaign for better conditions In lau1-
dries. makes II her business TO visit every
laundry she hears about. Sometimes
latter comes from a worker who dares ~.
sign her name SAYING that conditions are
vary had I'm a certain downtown Laundry.
Thereupon Mrs. Heath puts on her nav ana
her most businesslikc manner and saiiics
forth 20 see for herself. The Tribune fe-
norter met her under tho elevated ran
road.
"They say there "a pretty had one
around here somewhere. but ! can't sc'
any. Can you?" demanded Mrs. Heath.
h,e empty. black warehouse loomed mp On
ono corner; the other buildings were dwell
,ro houses Several minutes OF carei1'
search disclosed battered sign above
,1cketv stairway leading down to darKhesa'
"IJeayens," cried the explorers. rms
can't be IT." But 1t was: for after fc"iihS
her way down the narrow stairs MrS'
Heath pushed open door and half dozen
women looked up from piles ot towels ana
sheets. out Of the dampness emerged tne
nronrietor. who was most gracious.
81 believe I have heard OF Mrs. Heath
no smiled Certainly. should be glad 10
show, YOU my place There are some Things
about It I regret. but thes Cd" "e
do the best ! can.
Tho women have not stopped their WORK.
hut they evidently recognize inc S"dnS
as that Mrs Heath the papers nav '''
! about. who as president OF 'hc woman
Auxiliary OF the Individual ana Soc'a' '"'
| ,ice League. is agitating Laundry reioi"'o'
They look Ike children IN schoo' ""'
| try no, TO look self-conscious When ino''.
| ,,,sits ,he class Mrs. Iieaths eNperie"'7'
sve takes In thc surroundings AZ s''"''
rho ,alIs are black and damp. Drops u
all. n..,er drip from overhead in the hdch
| =, ,bc room. but the f1oor where the women
stand is dry enough. Men arc "orHins o,
the big revolving washing machihss' n''
,he uoren have only the manages ""''''
Mrs Heath notes are unsuarded'
"e,t we've never had an accident AZ one
~ these mangles. have We L'~~'e'
tie proprietor ,. N.,
No sir" answers Lizzie; hut Nrs
u..h ,oo,s Doubtful The accident may
be 4. get 10 come.
: THO women in this laundry York slx''
,o,r. reak ard receive 8. The fore
IVA, earns 81 She adds that she Ia
|~-id
Meantime tho air has been getting ho'tei
and heavier as the steam escapes lEo'" U.'
or.ned washing machines The strdhsei'
are only too thankful 10 make tneir escsp'
into the street
Tn the summer time. one ~ ~" "on1@r
,cId ,re." reflects Mrs. Heath. often toe'
faint away down there and have 70 he csr
r,.a M. 70 lie on tie street until theS
,.vive One good thing about that place
thoueh Is they don't work at nigh' ~
sa,d ,hev handled 10000 pieces Of fat
r.orlk a day. but he managed so as V
close at o'clock. I went into one pidce
vou know. az 1880 o'clock and the siri'
we're still at work They had begun a
40 O'clock in the morning. ! asked on'
~ then, what they did for lun'h:
".Oh" -he said. We send ont for
sandwich
"'And for supper?' asked.
".Oh. We send out for another sand
vich.'
'In somc places tho manager furnishes
money for food II tho eir' arc kept over
.inoo b,it he f. not Obliged So. Of course.
"One Of the things which must +" resu
lated i. the time OF FORK. only unior
,ich.ad AT tho way IN the proprietor:
have encours ged tho idea Of a union on
said 10 me that he would he glad 10 clos
q, night. but he couldn't because his com
petitors refused to II there was unio'
eli would be obliged 10. Some change. o
course. could he made in the system o
collecting soilcd clothes, so that Gil tn
washing would net have 70 DO done in fou
days As II is now. YOU know. very oftei
the girls are laid of on Monday and Satur
day and crowd in their sixty hours int
four days"
In another laundry which was on Mrs
Heaths list she found the proprietor YER!
enthusiastic about her plans.
II am 50 glad YOU say these things abou
good buildings" he said. I've been fight
| ing my landlord sor months To make Fin
| repair this old rcokery. lie won't do IT