Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-17
GARMENT WORKERS
ON GENERAL STRIKE
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
ers will win. My desire, and suppose the
manufacturers desire also. is to reach
settlement as soon as possible
Samuel Gompers could not come, SO he
sent Frank Morrison, secretary OF the
American Federation of Labor, to speak
for him at the meeting in the armory.
Mr. Morrison arrived at West Philadel-
phia from Washington at IL o'clock and
hurried to Broad and Wharton streets
Mr. Gompers sent this statement
81 honestly hope that the garment
workers will respond and become mem
bers of The union. remain members and
be true to themselves and to- each other,
in order that the advantages secured by
organization will be not only immediate.
but witt live for all time"
Two Socialist leaders are taking an
active part In various phases of the
strike. Morris Hillquit. of New York, n
Socialist of national reputation and au-
thor of many books on economic. social
and industrial subjects was attorney for
Mr.. Schlesinger In the arbitration pro-
ceedings, and Congressman John r. *.
Scott was attorney for Mr.. Haney, of the
Manufacturers Association. Charles Err
win, another Socialist, was one of the
spear4rs at the armory,
The other speakers AT the armory meet
ing were Mr.. Morrison, Mr., Schlcsinger,
Benjamin Vladek, Max Amdur, Dr. Max
Goldfarb and Miss Florence Sanville.
They spoke to an enthusiastic audience
of women and girls between Is and 30
years of age. The girls waved IN high
the red posters that had been J." sted up
in hundreds all over the city ind dis
tributed among the workers, or tossed
them i'm the air,
This gave a reddish aura to the audi
ence and the bright, hame-colored post
ers made the pale faces of the excited
rrirI TbANf ha a
risen this morning with tremulous cour-
age to take what was to them the terrible
risk of losing their work for some time
to come They had been told that the
manufacturers would surrender promptly
and grant them the Is per cent. increase
demanded. but they were not sure.
But they listened with shining eyes and
parted lips to the ringing appeals of the
speakers ito think OF the future of the
workers" ito stand together. for it is
the only way you will get sane working
conditions" ITO think OF the children that
are to come after you and who will also
face unfair labor conditions II you give
In tamely now"
They applauded these appeals, but they
were worried, because the wages which
they say are so impossible are not suf-
feient, at any rate, for more than very
few OF the workers TO put aside funds for
a crisis like this,
Mine thogsand OF you are out" cried
SchlesingeT, and by nigntfsll the rest OF
the 10000 garment workers in the city
will be out The unorganized workers
have followed the union workers out"
John Pierce, a vice president OF the
garment union, implored the women to
Stick together"
I'VE may win today" he said This
board of aTbitrators may decide on a
schedule that will give us most of what
we want before supper time, If you show
definitely now that you are in earnest.
Miss Florence SanYille told the workers
that this was "a great chance for women
TO show their power of cooperation"
This Will be great lesson for the
public" she said. with enthusiasm. TO
show that women know how to be loyal
TO each other and to humanity ana the
cause OF the oppressed. Let US show now
what should be the biggest result OF the
woman's movement, that women are de-
mandlng more influence IN the affairs Of
the world solely for good, constructive
causes like this one."
The men in the audience. only about
10 per cent OF the assemhlase. applauded
They seemed greatly moved By the voice
OF a woman ringing clearly across the
packed heads Of the strikers. There was
a note in that voice OF pathos. OF ma
teTnal proteetlveness thar seemed to em-
brace the many youpg. girls who we're
among her hearers
Frank Morrison. IA Sis address 10 the
workers. piedsed he tmoral support of
the American FedesatiJn Of Labor q The
garment workers and Eaid he you'd assist