The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-05
LABOR NOTES OF
WIDE INTEREST

The problem of the working girl is one
of the greatest problems that confronts
the world to-day. Very few people really
know what the girls who have 10 work
have to contend with. They are con-
fronted with everything that is unpleas-
ant; still they dare not say word.
One of the worst things is low wages.
Many girls have to work for-well, it
is a shame to tell--but did it ever oc-
cur to you who have nice homes and
warm clothing and everything that is
dear to you that there are girls in
Barre who have to work for $3.50 week
and very few who ever reach the sum
of 81 per week? If every woman would
stand up for her rights this would soon
be thing of the past. Then there are
those who could live without taking the
places Of those who are compelled to
work.
Because Of the saying. "The hand that
rocks the cradle. rules the world" this
same hand is reaching out for the pen
ell to scratch the ballot on election day,
and God speed the day when the Yer
mont women will have the opportunity
of helping to make laws, especially laws
for the protection OF working girls. The
condition that exists in some of our best
shops, stores and other places OF en-
ployment would make Chicago blush.
When ii comes to wages returning to
the wage of the average girl, take one
who has to support herself She NUT
pay, say SO for board; that takes about
all she makes; then there is laundry,
clothing and many other necessities of
life to buy. She has to look nice, no
matter what it costs.
| dare say that the dumb brutes re-
ceive more consideration than the girls
who work. If you drive horse too
fast. or one that is old and poor, the
humane society can prosecute the Of
fender; but employers can drive girls,
who are human beings, to destruction
and YOU never hear a word about 1t.
Low wages have been the cause OF more
girls downfalls than all evils put to-
gether In this age of advancement, we
feel that the girls who work should re-
ceive their share of consideration. Many
will say it is "too bad" and eve sym
pathize with them" But sympathy does
not keep them warm or give them any
more to eat. What they want is your
support in making things more pleasant
by helping them secure living wage,
a shorter day, clean places to work in,
plenty of light and fresh air. The cry
all over our city to-day is, Clean up
your yards and so on. Why not clean
up the shops where they are compelled
to work. They spend most of their
time at work. If each club woman would
take day off and make a round, they
would soon learn why there are SO many
pale faced working girls.
Trade unions have made the meeting
room the debating club on economic and
social questions: the church of human
ity, in which all races and creeds must
meet on equal terms.
There are in the ranks of labor, as
well as in all other organizations, pc
culiarly inconsistent class of people.
known as cutters. These fellows are
restless, energetic and capable, but they
have one fatal failure the lack of that
splendid quality, perseverance. They
run well for a season. but fail often
at the very point of achievement. We
find them in the union taking hold with
rush and great hurrah, trying to
carry things with cyclonic sweep. Big
things do not move that way at the in
slant bidding of few enthusiasts, and,
after a succession of ineffective Jerks,
they "cuss and quit"
These impatient fellows do great in
Jury TO the cause in more ways than
one. Their zeal and apparent devotion
often win for them positions of more or