The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-04-25
Information Also Shows One Girl
Was Driven to Prostitution
Because Of Low Wages
SUPERINTENDENT GETS GRILLike

Springfield. ILL.,, April 25-The In
ternational Shoe CO.. a twenty-five
million dollar corporation, with
branch il Springfield, was excoriatea
by the Senate vice commission inquiry
today. ; w. Derby superintendent OF
the local factory. was on the witness
stand, following the testimony Of sew
eral girl employees Of the establish
ment and assumed hostile attitude
toward the committee.
Derby answered question in a low
inarticulate voice.
Speak UP please" requested Sena-
tor Juul who was doing the question
ing, the stenographers and newspa-
per1nen cannot hear you"
Y don't care anything about them"
responded Derby
We'll, we 10 care" declared JuuI
This is a modern version Of the
public be damned intsrposed chais-
man OHara.
Derby saw he had made a mistake.
I'm talking 10 YOU not 10 them" he
added.
The state Of Illinois is part Of this
commission" declared OrHara.
Juul then expressed his sentiments
toward the shoe company Il want 10
tell YOU. Derby, for one wish had
the power 20 drive your concern from
the state. You are "a disgrace 10 the
state"
And I want to add one Of the great
est disgraces TO the state" interposed
OHara
We had some Information regard
ing your concern" continued JUL
we learned that one poor Girl who
worked for YOU was driven 10 prosu-
tuition because she was paid only S8.au
week. We had TO 20 into executive
session because the testimony was So
rotten the pubic could not hear it,"
Derby was asked 10 bring the pay
rolls before the commission next week.
Agnes Kane aged Il, formerly en-
ployed in ;he international Shoe Co.
told of r'oreman Alexander Of the box
department Sei4ing girls and shaking
them when displeased, and cursing
girls when they failed 10 turn out as
much work as he desired
AT the morning session. D w. Ven-
able, proprietor Of the Victor hotel
was recalled 10 the stand He was
questioned regarding the circum-
stances under which he secured and
held the hotel. which he testified last
night was run IN a respectable man
ner. He said he had offered 10 sell tho
and lease il for a thousand
less than he paid for II.
u. L Phillips, owner Of a building
in jefferson street, was examined reIa.
tive TO his property. occupied as a sa-
loon on the grOuud floor and an inn
moral resort ON the second floor Phil
lips rented tho building to the Seipp
Brwing company, ana was not famil-
lar with the conditions existing in the
Fat above saloon, although he under
stood Il was immoral.
Mary Barnes aged 16. living in Sec
ond street, testified she was working
for the Coates Watch Tool Co, which
paid her three dollars for the FIRST
week and then she was put On piece
work ard was able to earn only thirty
cents a day
sylvia Kane aged l., offered testi-
mony similar 20 Miss Barnes. The
wages, she said, were paid once
month
Harrison Orders investigation.
Chicago, April 25.---Mayor Harrison
today ordered civil service investi-
cation of vice and crime conditions in
he Desplaines street police district. AT
the same time he praised Captain
Meagher. who commands the district.
and eXcoriated newspapers as enc
mics Of public opinion" The investiga-
ton viii be sequel OF a controversy
between Meagher and Judge Mahoney
,f the municipal court. Mahonev
claims the condition OF the district is
ieplorable. This is denied by Meag-
her