The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-14
VICE PROBE TO
CONTINUE SAYS
WORKER
Investigation Has Gone Too
Far to Stop, She De.
clares
PERMANENT COMMITTEE
NEXT IN PENNSYLVANIA
|oted Cast Gives First Pre-
sentatiOn of COrrec-
tive Play

CHICAGO. March 1.-THE "Hght
. womsn's minimum wage law IN
inois and other states OF this nation
ust not stop now. Public sentiment
% become too strong to permit busi
)ss interests to block It."
Miss Mary Mcdowell, head of the
hicago university settlement house
ID noted co-worker Of Jane Adams
bued this warning today to members
the Illinois legislature who have
BEN under pressure to drop considera
pu OF q state minimum wage law n
10 session.
Miss Mcdowell attended nearly
|sry hearing before the Illinois Sen
b white slave investigating commit
when II questioned big employers
out the wages paid young girls. and
bmen. She Is intensely interested In
b fight for the wage bill, and Is
lady to go TO Springfield 10 speak
it, behalf.N
''Leut.- Gov. O'Hara has been SO dar
k-he has been almost rash, in bring
these facts about low wages be-
70 the public" said Miss Mcdowell
cannot believe that the senators
II surrender now"
Big employers and big business in
rests In Chicago. supported by many
icago newspapers, are fighting the
hte minimum wage bill with two
hds Of fre. First, they insist that
nimum wage legislation should be
ieral rather than state, and that a
lie law will deal q severe blow at
nois industries. because they will
ller In competition with industries
other states. Second, they assert
ht the increased wages. in the long
p, will be borne by the great mass
consumers and will boost the high
bt of living.
Miss Mcdowell answered both these
kuments today.
T have been through too many leg.
alive fights to be frightened when
income raises the cry: 1t will ruin
state" she said.
When we asked for q child labor
n, the big glass works told US they
build be driven out of the state II
by could not employ children. In
bad, glass works have moved into
nois. When we asked for the 10.
ur law for women, they told us
lt every woman employed by the
waited lines. In Chicago, would be
Enlarged. know OF not one that
{ her position.
"A state minimum wage law Tor
men may not be an ideal piece OF
islation," admitted Miss Mellow
"but anything IL better II 1t i'm
bves the chances Of girl TO earn
bugh to live on. England and Aus
liza have minimum wage laws ana
satisfied with them, then why not
herica?
"A federal law, perhaps, would
|rk greater justice. But we. VINO
oW something OF NE dimculty OF
kting laws through congress, and
n know of the delay In getting
I'm approved by the supreme court
no immediate hope in that direc'
A." "
A young girl who has been making
losing night against poverty ioI
nths. and had finally succumbed 20
walton, was brought to the settle
mt house this week, before her re-
wal to the hospital.
4 must get out a. soon as ! can,
whispered to Miss Mcdowell. I'm
ly making IS q week. but II ID All
al keeps mother and ME alive. i!
don't get back to work, she Will
krve to death"
And vet philanthropists, said MISS
.Dowell. who believe 1t folly 10
"a their wage scale upon the living
r.. are footing the bills while thar
i lies on q hospital cot.
mr.. Rosenwald and the department
RE heads who testified before the
mmittee. are generous and kino
arted men, I believe. But they are
staken. They do not reaiize .hs'
ren thew fail to pay girls In their
splov enough to enable them TO feeo
4 clothes themselves properly. they
lat make up that deficit In some
her way. They must do It IN dona
ma To charitable institutions or I'D
creased taxes to support state In
tutiOnS. Inc Iuohey h"oS
,m some source.
4 have no patience with the arsu
mt that the increase In wages
ould he shouldered of upon the
blic. and the cost OF living IN
eased. The public pays the cos
wand pays dearly when q wo,k
girl. worn out by her Toll, ia,'s
tim to exhaustion and goes 10 tne
spital. tuberculosis sanitarium OF
g poorhouse. :,
"How much better II ~ouid De !,
@ public. cooperating with the mn
naire employers. saw TO II tnat tna'
81 was paid a wage that wouid en-
lie her to obtain sufnc1ent hourisfi
.nt to keep body and soul toge'her
en- II II did raise prices siightiy u
e public and cut the diV'dehos U
xrtAo "