Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1916-01-08
TRADES COUNCIL
ADDRESSED BY
FACTORY GIRL
Young Woman Keeps Identity
Hidden So She Will Not
Be Discharged.

An address by young woman who
said she was an empoye of local
white goods factory, but who, be-
cause of fear of losing her job de-
clined to give her name, was made
last night before the delegates seated
al the meeting of the Essex Trades
Council.
The speaker provoked laughter
when, in pleading with the men pres
ent to instruct their sisters, sweet
hearts and friends who are working
m this line to organize, she declared
hat after working for two years in
his city she almost dropped dead"
when she drew her salary for the
week ana was handed $7.35.
s'This,'' she said, "was the largest
amount of money I had received In
my period of employment in Newark,
and only because l had not broken
/ needle during the week. Other
weeks I was lucky if l could make Sc.
as my employers made the girls pay
for all the needles broken. There are
some girls who make as high as $40
a week, but these are the ones we
.all 'snitchers,' who run to the fore
lady every time one girl will whisper
IL dDOAnEi iIiC COulSt VI IHb
days work. For this we are fined
Even during the lunch hour we are
not allowed to speak to each other.
and the girls are not allowed to tell
how much they make a week. If they
do so and il is discovered, they are
Instantly discharged"
The speaker said that 1t was a
shame. when the girls in New York
city are making as high as SIS week
af thntr "a /, fzafinn fhqf
the waist and white goods workers in
tlis city do not organize and reap the
benefits OF organization.
She ended her address by asking the
delegates to inform their friends of a
faass meeting to be held in New
Enion Hall, on Springfield avenue.
rext Tuesday night, when Miss Mabel
A. Craig, the local, ,organizer OF the
waist, corset and white goods work.
'ors, will make an address before the
2i.is who attend, in an attempt to
show them the 'error of their ways"
Hatters' Day.
A communication was received from
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, sug
resting that Thursday, January 27,
he set aside as "Hatters' Day." and
that the local unions contribute the
money that they make in the second
to a fund which will be used for the
relief of the Danbury hatters, whose
long litigation has received such
prominence.
This proposition was indorsed by
the council. Labor people In all parts
of the country will observe the day
and contribute to the fund. The
suggestion received favorable action
at the recent convention of the
American Federation of Labor, held
at San Francisco.
Henry J. Lohse, delegate from the
metal 9oiishers, made motion that
-he council should appoint COM
rnittce of three to visit the executive
committee of the State Federation of
Labor to take up the matter of intro
ducing an amendment to Bill COG at
the legislative meeting to be held in
Trenton.
Secretary HiIfers informed the
council that the executive board rep
resenting the State Federation of
Labor had not lost sight of this bill
and would do everything In it's power
TO push IL through. Its reintroduc-
ton Is for the purpose of changing
the term of the appointment of
State commissioners of labor from
three to five years. The appointment
is made by the governor of the State,
and the contention OF Mr.. Lohse was
mat II the appointment was maze 10
five years for the incumbent. politics
could not enter into the appointment.
as the man appointed would be serv-
ing under Democratic and Republican
governors, or vice versa.
Mr.. Lohse was emphatic in his ad-
vocating of the committee of three
to interview the executive board of
the State federation, saying: "They
won't sidetrack us this year"
Mr.. Hilfers explained that il he
could see Mr.. Lohse for n few mo-
.nents In private he would be able to
convince him of some things pertain
ing to the bill.
MIR. Lohse replied that if he could
see Mr.. Hilfers in private he also
could tell other things about the bill
IN question, and be able to prove that
his fears were we'll founded.
The council also received a circular
letter from the Committee of One
Hundred, in charge OF the city's 250th
anniversary celebration next spring,
IN quest of persons to take part in
The pageant. The matter was re-
ferred to the committee of twenty
Ave.
Nothing was said of the bicycle
riders in this city who have organ
,zed body Of their own and who
have applied to the State Federation
of Labor for a charter. Mr.. Hilfers
will address the riders at Mackay's
Hall, in Market street, this afternoon.
He said that the charter was still