The Washington socialist. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1914-1915, 1915-05-13
A STORY OF TIVE NEW I
GRICAGO MORALS COURT

The Chicago Day Book of April 81
gives an account of an underpaid de-
partment store girl, whose effort to
better her financial condition, brought
her into the Morals court. The story
of the hearing is thus told
Judge Heap heard her case this
morning. And when the girl, be-
tween choked sobs, had gotten half
way in her arraignment of the mil
lionaire department stores the owl
like sternness of the veteran jurist,
who has heard so many hardened
tales In the Morals court, was re-
placed by look of sympathetic ten
derness.
II don't like to see girl like you
here" said the judge, and his voice
was very low and humane. you're
not the sort of girl who should be
here. Your crime is on the heads
of men who pay starvation wages.
If I give you one more chance will
you be better girl?"
Lillian's answer made the Judge
look thoughtfully through the window
on Chicago's skyscrapers which repre-
sent so much wealth.
What can l do, your honor?" she
asked earnestly. Don't think
haven't tried hard before / weakened.
God, I've tossed in my bed night after
night trying to find some other solu-
ton. can't live on 81 a week. I've
scraped, I've skipped meals, I've worn
secondhand clothes, and still / can't
make 81 cover my expenses. 1t is the
right to live I'm asking"
Judge Heap could not answer this.
The girl won her point. And in tie
face of Lillian's bitter cry agains. the
wages Of department stores, no one
else could answer
Heap will try and help Lillian as
an individual. Down in Springfield
today social workers are trying to
help all department store girls
through the fight for the minimum
wage bill.
The Day Book is badly mistaken.
With all due respect to the intentions
of the social workers at Springfield,
they are doing nothing of any value
whatever to department store girls,
or to any one else.
They may get minimum wage legis-
Flation passed, but sach legislation In
creases no wages 1t only rests with
employment to the class of laborers
able to earn the minimum amount
without such legislation. If the social
workers have not yet learned that
much, they must be incompetent for
the task they have assumed of better
ing conditions. If they have learned
1t there Is no excuse for their per-
sistency in urging futile measure.
In either case they are delaying an
effective remedy.
The Day Book is wrong in denounc-
ing department store owners. They
are no more responsible than other
citizens who use their political rights
In such a way as to continue condi-
tons which make jobs SO scarce that
many must work for low wage If
they would work at all. 1t is unjust
to denounce department store owners
or other individuals for conducting
business in accordance with condi-
tions that popular majority refuses
to change.
Judge Heap, like the Day Book,
missed an opportunity to make clear
the real cause which brings offenders
to his court. He or his successors
will continue to have such cases to
deal with, regardless of minimum-
wage legislation and denunciation of
department store owners, as long as
the fundamental wrong remains un-
corrected. The responsibility rests on
those who are doing nothing to help
correct it,