The Detroit times., 1912-05-06


ion, the departments and the COM
pany's officials, the price TO be calcu-
lated on the basis OF what the aver
age worker could do in an hour IL she
were paid 80 cents an hour, working
by the week.
There are hundreds of instances
cited by the strikers where women en-
ployed on piece work In the factory
were paid from 81 to SO for weeks
work, paying out OF that the cost oil
the thread they used. One illustration
Of this Mrs. Kate Sanford stated TO
The Times that she had been employ
ed in the factory for II years and that
she received S1.95 for three days
work She said the highest she had
ever received was 81 a week and that
had not occurred very often.
The strikers assert that the nearest
competitors of the Kalamazoo Corset
Co., pay more wages.
The strikers nave fled II affidavits
signed by former employees of the plant
and relating to the charges OF immoral
| ity. Their attorney states that many
more could be obtained, each relating
| TO separate instances. The Times re-
| porter read these affidavits and the
| charges made therein are too vile for
! publication. The strikers charge that
forewoman was once taken from a
disorderly house in a raid. Inquiry
| among the business men of the city
seems TO substantiate their statements
to a certain extent When these men
are asked about their impressions and
! understanding Of the AFFAIR they smile
and say conditions are pretty bad"
Some used the word rotten
One OF the encouraging signs TO the
strikers is their claim that Mrs. Fern
Bearsley Rawley, the daughter OF
Superintendent Beardsley, who was
employed in the factory as corset
maker, quit her job with the strikers,
stating that the girls were not receiv-
ing enough wages to keep. them de-
Gently.
corsst' company's Side.
]. III. Hatfield, president and general
manager OF the Kalamazoo Corset Co.,
| is a man of about As years year OF age
and Is typical OF the keen-eyed, alert
business man. He is rather small OF
stature and his hair is close-cropped
and gray, but he is strongly built and
has the appearance OF bodily vigor and
determination. His lips set firmly, but
he generally smiles shrewdly when
talking. He is very affable.
Strike? Why this Is only the rem
nant OF strike" he said when asked
about the conditions at the factory.
The strike was called In February
and we filed the girls places and
everything was running along smooth
1 ly when a few of the girls tried TO
make trouble for us in front of our
premises.
| I'VE have weekly payroll here OF
$4,000. | am not prepared to say just
exactly the number Of employees we
have. Business ethics, you know, pre-
vent that, but your information that
we have 1000 is not quite correct.
That figure is a trifie too low. We
have been In business in Kalamazoo
for 20 years and our factory is rated
as the largest factory devoted TO the
manufacture OF corsets In the west,
and is about the fourth largest in the
country. Since this trouble started we
have had several offers to remove 10
other cities, but we are not considering
them just now. OF course, IL condi-
! tions become such that We cannot
operate to advantage In Kalamazoo, II
would only be natural that we would
seek a location elsewhere.
| I'VE are now completing a factory
in Davenport. Ia, because we can't
make enough goods in Kalamazoo TO
supply the trade. Why? Because the
local supply OF female labor Is ex-
| hausted. We are now advertising else
where for girls TO work In our factory
in this city, but not primarily because
Of the strike. We are operating with
as many girls now as we had before
the strike, but our business is con-
stantly growing and We are In constant
need of more girls"
| Mr. Hatfield was reluctant to discuss
the allegation OF the strikers. particu-
larly the question OF the moral condi-
tons OF the factory. The latter sub
| ject he would not discuss at all, save
to make a general denial Of the strik-
ers' changes. Speaking OF the sani-
tary conditions In the factory he said:
| I'VE have two state factory inspect
ors who inspect our plant and believe
they are competent TO Judge as 10
whether we are obeying the laws with
respect TO sanitation. II you investi-
gate carefully, believe you will dis
cover that these questions were
brought up by paid organizers who
are seeking 10 make trouble for-us
believe Miss Casey's home Is In Chi
cago and that she is paid salary to
organize the girl employees In this fac.
tory.
The organizers had made some
progress in unionizing our factory. but
since the strike was called the mem
bers OF the union are out and we now
have no union employees. Indeed, I
am very happy thus far as TO the out
come OF the trouble, The girls who
are now working for us seem 10 be
contented. and they are paid fair
wages for the work they do You
would not have heard any more about
the strike that was called several
months ago had not the organizers
| violated the courts injunction.
Alderman IL sympathlzer.
"If Judge Knappen s4ntunction holds
good and " II is enforced 10 the letter