The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-08-27
GEO. W. PERKINS,
 INCONSISTENCY
How Women Are Treated in~ an In-
 ternationaI Harvester Factory

ternational Harvester Factory
 New York, Aug. 27.-George W. Perkins has thrown his lot with Roosevelt because he, Perkins, has children, he says. He says he wants to remedy all human ailments, and especially care for the women toilers.
 In the mills of the Osborne Twine company No. 3, at Auburn, N. Y., which is owned by the International Harvester company, of which George w. Perkins is a director and leading Senator Robert F. Wagner of the state factory Investigating committee discloSeS peculiar conditions.
 The investigation started about a week ago, and in these few days the inconsistency of the third term candi- dates principal financial packer has been fully shown.
 Women toll all night long in the Perkins directed harvester trust fac- tory. Some of these women receive as high as s7 a week, but many of them only $5. They are given fifteen work in dust laden rooms from twelve to fourteen hours day.
 On Aug. IT Roosevelt said:
 "Mr. Perkins is a rich man. He came into my movement on his own initiative. have known him for fourteen years. and when he joined me I asked him, Why are you sup porting me?
 "He said the primary reason was because he had children. He had all the money he wanted, he said. and had come to the conclusion that this country won't be good place to live in when his children become the age we are unless business and govern ment are brought into proper rela- tions, unless the relations of capital and the wage earner are placed on better basis"
 day at Revere Beach. Mass, Roose- welt said:
 T wish an eight hour day for wom- en of industry, I wish safety appli- ances, and I wish to secure heslthful conditions for the wageworkers-' 1 George w. Perkins in his confession of faith on Aug. 20-and this date is imp
 Money is not all in this life. The mere accumulation of wealth will not bring an honorable heritage to my only son. Is there not something more than the incentive to make money which can leave him ?'' Four days before these statements were made by Roosevelt and Perkins the New York state factory inyesti- gating committee visited the Inter- national Harvester companys plant | ana there 0AAIIlIAGQ WOEhlQ9 81I4S AIIu married women, and their testimony is a long recital of uhsanitarry condi- tions and starvation wages. Read what Senator Wagner says: "The appearance of the women workers in this plant was very dis heartening. They were worn and pale. and their clothes, faces and hands were covered with oil and hemp clotTl. Many of these women, so called, are only children in age, and they have to lug huge piles of hemp, weighing 150 pounds each, across the floor. the load in some cases being bigger than the women themselves. "In the spinning room, where worn- en are employed alone, to the exclu- sion of meE, who would have to re- ceive$ higher wages, the chatter of machinery Is so frightful that voice below shrfek cannot be heard. The rooms are dark, though for no neces- sary cause, and no attempt is made to remove the dust, which is kept in constant motion by the line shaftings, despite the requirement. of the law. This dust is breathed continuously by the women, many of whom complain of chronic coughs and colds. The dust and dirt are so thick upon the clothes of the girls that at the noon hour, which in many cases consists of but few minutes, and at the close of the days or nights labor, the girls have to sweep each other clean with brooms." The custom of working the women all night, it was learned, was perma- nent. Married woman were selected, and for their labore, which started at sundown- and lasted until 6:30 o'clock in the morning, they received never more than ST a week. In many fami- lies the husband was employed at an average wage of about $8 during the day.
 This woman testified that she could not work during the day because of her children. When asked when she arranged to sleep, she explained that morning while her neighbors cared for her children.
 William M. 0reig, superintendent of the Harvester trusts twine mills, was closely questioned by MT. Elkus. Mir. Greig informed him that the mills 200 worked all night. He was asked who was responsible for the existing conditions.
 "AIl our regulations as to shifts and general conditions come from the home office at Chicago he replied.
 t'Who decides how long every em- ploye is to work ?" asked MT. Elkus.
 That is decided by one man, MT. Rice''
 And under whose instructions does he act?"
 .'He gets his orders from the board of directors in Chicago"
 How often do you report to the home office?"
 Every day"
 '.And do you report everything that happens?" asked Mir. Elkus.
 Practically everything was the reply.
 Here in effect are the reports of the personal statements of few of the girls as to the conditions under which they worked:
 Katie Nelson, an Austrian, seven teen years old. Works from at night until 6:3G in the morning. Her sister works during the day. Must stand on her feet all day. Is paid by the piece and receives on the average of $7 8 week.
 Mary Provi.-Nineteen years old and has been working in the mill for three years. Her hours are from 6:30 a. m. until p. m. Receives fifteen minutes at noon in which to walk home Ca five minute walk.) take her lunch and come back. Her feet and throat bother her continuously, and sheSis frequently sick. She complains that the floor is dangerously slippery where she works and the dust thick. When she comes home she must do housework for her mother and father.
 Josephine Cristenolli.-Sixteen years old, and born in Italy. Works from sunrise until 6 p. m. for about $7 . week. Must push loads of twine across the floor weighing about 15o pounds. Has no time to sit down