The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-10
.SALESWOMAN HITS
AT WAGE REFORMERS
Tells Factory Investigators
Girls Resent Imputations
Of SOcioloeists.
LIVELY Tits AT HEARING

There were some Tits yesterday be
tween witnesses and women In the audi
ence at the hearing by the State Fac
tory Investigating Commission in the
Hall OF Records on the question
Of legislation for a minimum wage scale
for women and minors. The hearings
we're adjourned to January %, when one
Of the witnesses will be Louis ID. Bran
deis, chairman of the Joint arbitration
board OF the Cloakmskers Union and the
manufacturers.
The first tilt occurred when Mrs. Maude
F1owerton, prosperous looking woman,
took the stand. She was dressed In ek.
pensive furs. carried cane and caused
stir when she appeared She began
by complaining OF the interference Of
reformers In the relations between EN-
ployers and employees and after announ-
cling that sine represented the highest
class of saleswomen said:
Relieve me, the better class of sales
women because of the criticism Of them,
resent all this talk about immortality and
ali that sort Of thing by the so-called
| reformers. economists and schoolgirls.
who talk at random without knowing the
facts.
She then gave n list of stores In which
she said the girls are overworked and UNI
derpaid. but that did not Justify the
reflections on shopgirls She did not be-
lieve in a minimum wage. 1t would throw
one-third OF the shopgirls idle.
Mrs. Frederick Maude Nathan. presi-
dent OF the New York Consumers League
demanded 10 know why the minimum
wage would throw one-third idle.
| because" said Mrs. Flowerton. One
third 81 them at Sc a week or so are stock
girls and would be driven out"
number of the girls In the room
bridled up ut this and more question;
were asked. She stood to her guns, how
ever. .saa
The first witness In the forenoon wai
Miss Heien Marot, former president Of the
Women's Trade Union League. She die
not believe in minimum wage scale fol
women. Schoolgirls. she said, knew wei
that with a minimum wage employer
would shift the girls from higher to lowei
paid depa rtments TO save expenses. Sh'
believed In the organization OF women
which was largely increasing. as ttle bes
mems Of keeping up wages.
Miss Elizabeth T.. butcher. representing
the Retail Clerks Union, was In favor Of
a minimum wage scale. Some OF the girls
were paid such low wages that they coulC
not pay dues into the union. She be
leved In high minimum rate. Mis-
Pauline Newman OF the Women's Trade
Union League said that hardly any mar
or woman OF any intelligence who knew
how small wages some women were paiC
would be against a minimum wage. 1
was necessity, she believed
Rome q. Brown OF Minneapolis, attor
, ney for the opponents of minimum wag'
law before the United states Suprem
Court, representing the manufacturers an,
other employers OF Oregon, said II wa
utterly futile to attempt to fore
efficiency or make employers benevolen
who were not so naturally. He went owe
: a wide field ~ subjects and woman win
said she was Miss G. =. Fincher of Den
yer. Col, protested
Il thought there would be five minut
, speeches and that this hearing was 70
women" she said.
Some of the women applauded and Mis-
. Fincher continued:
, THE witness instead OF talking on tn
subject OF the benehting of women WORK
, ers IL going into socialism and politics
, Where | come from women want the
, rights
: II do not want TO critlcise a woma
A harshiy." said Chairman Robert r. Wal
ner, but this commission is conductir
the hearing and will continue TO condu
n IL. This witness comes from long di
. lance and has a right to courteous trea
\ | ment."
!. The witness. resuming. said that IL
q morality had no connection with 10
wages