The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-03-08
MORE EMPLOYERS QUESTIONED
Some of the Biggest Department
Store Owners In Chicago Be-
fore Vice Commission
SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS DENIED

Chicago March S-ildward HHlmau
of "Hillman's" one Of the citys larg-
ost department stores, was the first
witness before the Illinois vice COM
mission today. The witness thought
tlcrc were some cases in connection
between low wages and the immoral
ity OF women.
DO YOU think a woman would sell
her virtue before she would starvc?'
asked Lieut.. Governor Ollara, chair
man If the commission.
Yes" was the prompt reply, the
first Of the kind from AN employer thus
far heard
Hillman said there were Sl7 girls
and women i'm his store OF these
fCrty-six girls received five dollars;
twenty-four, four dollars: twenty
tmee, $3.50. and six, 50, These last
are errand girls, whose parents want
them TO learn the business so they
If one OF your three dollar girls lost
her virtue would it. hurt YOUR con-
Gcience?" asked O1Iara.
Certainly"
Would YOU hold yourself respon-
sibleo"
Il think her parents would be re-
sponsi5le"
The witness never beard Of a girl
hlacklisted for bad conduct, but he did
hnow of a floor walker who had SUI
Tered thot fate for immortality
Hillman admitted hc was "a self
made man and started WORK as cash
boy at two dollars a week.
Gould you live on it?' inquired
OHara.
He Could Live On Ten Week,
Well father earned $ll and my
two dollars helped out"
Asked on what sum he thought
girl could support herself independent
ly. Hillman said eight or nine dollars
a week.
Il could live on twelve. 7 could
squeeze through on ten, | think.
Hillman promised the commission
he would hire an investigator to look
into applications for positions To as
certain whether the applicant could
live on the salary i'm prospect lie
said ne thought 1t good idea, ana
would be glad To do Il
James Simpson, of the Marshall
Field CO., who Yesterday declined to
disclose the profits of his firm, offered
the commission private access to th@
books of his company. HilImah
agreed to do the same.
Asked by Senator Beall II he gave
employees a chance to advance, Hiil-
man said:
You bet We want them To ad-
vance. There is "A sign in my Office
grow or CO."
Takes Exception to Statement
Representative Lloyd informed the
witness that the report of the thlcaS"
vice commission showed that many
department store girls lead llNeS oi
shame. This was news to Hillmah'
who denied any such condition in ms
store.
why" he exclaimed. let me tell
You about one of those mashers Wh"
are always taking up the time oil our
girls. Two weeks ago one OF our ue
toctives caught one of them, ana non
est when that bull got through WIN
Linn. he was n sight"
Hllman said he thought the moral
standards Of the girls in ms stoI'
We're high. lie invited BealI To conn
over and size them ur. You can teil
as much about them as | can. III
show you around"
Beall. who formerly WAS known as
the "stork mayor of Alton. lll'' Hus"-
ed, and said 'Ill be there"
Secretary Glenn OF the Illinois Man
ufachring association, owner OF 'he
manufacturers. News" the organ o'
the association, was the next witness
He took issue to the statement Una
fifty thousand girls OF Chicago are
employed at a wage of five dollars OF
less. Glenn said that in his Judgmeh,
an editorial in the Manufacturers
News" was correct This ar'ic'e
charged that the vice commission
would pay less attention to the reta''
stores II the stores gave more adVer-
tising to "A newspaper by which oiia-
ra formerly was employed.
Don't you know that statement 10
he a lie?" glared O'Hara.
President Mandei of Mandel broth-