Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1913-03-20

That the frightful conditions being
Al sclosed in the big department stores
% Chicago by the Senate Committee
al the Illinois Legislature in investi-
% ting the white slave traffic in that
State have their counterpart in Wheel
mp and that this city contributes its
ANIMAL quota to the stream OF fallen
Ills into the whirlpools of vice in
ne big cities, are startling DECLARE
tions made by L. D. Redding, OF La
Favette. Indiana general organizer OF
the Retail Clerks International Pro
fectiye Association, who is now inves-
tigatingf conditions in this city.
TO a Majority man Mr.. Redding talk
ed earnestly Of the great need for saw
ing the girls OF Wheeling from the
Freely clutches OF the big merchants
who are paying them wages far be-
low the lowest cost of honorable iv-
ing. He says that conditions have
reached such a stage here that de-
termined effort must be made to bring
about a minimum wage system, below
which no employer shall be allowed
to go.
Labor's Claims Sustained.
1.-THE all important question of the
day is, does low wages paid girls lead
to immortality? If SO is this as true in
Wheeling as in Chicago and other
cities, both large and small?" asked
the Majority man.
Labor organizations" said Mr..
Redding, together with several other
organizations for the past several
yea rs have been placing before the
g. MI
brought to light before the Senate
committee of the Illinois legislature.
The White Slave Probers have
brought forth some startling facts
which when compiled will only prove
the statements made for years by or
ganized labor. A few employers have
stated that in their opinion less-than-
a-liFing wagexaAS 20 een1eetion with
the White Slave Traffic, shut the fact
that it does and is the chief cause has
been conclusively proven by women
who are willing to lay bare their own
sins that others may profit thereby
Wheeling Contributes to Vice.
I'm our own fair city we do not
have to go to any great extent of in
vestigation to be assured that women
and girls are compelled to work six
days week In retail stores for less
than it costs them to live. We today
are feeding the larger cities with
those who are forced upon lives of
shame in Wheeling, become degener-
ates and are forced to seek larger
cities to hide their identity. Others
seek matrimony as relief, many OF
whom make but little investigation OF
the other contracting party, which
only helps to increase the divorce
evils.
Il do not infer that all girls who
work in retail stores, or factories, for
less than a living wage are immoral,
but the woman or girl who works for
less than living wage is dependent
upon a father, brother, or some rela
tive or friend for partial support, and
is In direct competition with the girl
who must work and pay all Of her
expenses. The girl who lives at home,
or with relatives, Is partially reSpons-
ible too for the fall OF her sister.
! How about the employer who pays
less than living wage? Is he re-
sponsible? Does he have any hand in
the AFFAIR.""
He will say to you that competi-
ton is SO strong and his competitor
Is employing girls for this small wage
and that he cannot afford to pay more,
yet he can donate large sums to char
ity to Young Women's homes, etc.
The Chicago Investigation brought out
flgpres from several merchants show
ing that at least one firms profits
last year were over two millions OF
dollars. While we do not know what
profits the Wheeling merchants are
making We do know that their bust
ness looks profitable that they are
all extending their business, that
none OF the big ones are making as
signments.
When pressed the merchant final
" declares that he has not considered
mat he is responsible for the down
fall OF girls through failure to pay Q
hvlag wage. Now that the response
ollity is placed at his door, now that
ne IS known to be responsible to q
large degree, the minimum wage mus
pc recognized by him as correction
OF the existing evils. j
Keeps Employees Subservient.
He has succeeded in keeping his
employees subservient They in many
instances are not allowed to seek pro
lection through united efforts, this
being discouraged by those in author
ity, not always the employer himself
Dut IN many instances his paid depart
ment heads. Evidence has been gath
ered quietly In Wheeling which Il
brought to light (which win be shouli
mere be state or city investigation
securely, which would startle the en-
tire city and community. 1t would b
surprising to know Just how many
women could be brought to this cit
20 testify to having formerly beef
employed by prosperous business
houses here. who were started on tn,
uoEnward road right here, being al
towards forced to go elsewhere I,
continue the lives that were force.