The sun., 1919-05-20
Conductorettes Rail at Spon'
sors Of Law That Deprived
Them Of Jobs.
QUICK REPEAL DEMANDED
Uproarious Meeting Is Held in
Brooklyn--Needy Cases
Are Revealed.

10Y ~ = "Sctihb a. $40 VoohAho
street, Brooklyn. where 200 women gath
cred TO express themselves about the
Lockwood law. which Is depriving them
and about 1000 other women OF the
comfortable wages they have collected
from the B. r. T.
They had a number of things to say
about what they called the "htghbrow
women" who pushed the legislation
as we'll that Mrs. Norman de r. White
house and Mrs. James Lees Lsidlaw
were prevented by a conference at the
New York State League OF Women Vot-
ers, 900 Fifth avenue, from accepting
the invitation which Miss Amy Wren.
attorney for the b. r. T. women. ca
tended to them over the telephone to at
tend the Brooklyn meeting.
Miss Leonora O'Reilly. representing
the Women's Trade Union League.
sought from time TO time to arise in the
swirlins mob and defend the women
who sponsored the bills, but though she
mas conquered turbulent street meetings
ana fought through q number Of strikes
and picket disturbances she was no
match for these women. When last seen
she was crouching in a corner with Mrs
Nora Stanton Blatch standing over her
explaining the iniquities Of the whole
aSb piOB Oh tllo w. 4. ~. H.
The meeting opened at 1850, with
Mrs. Charlotte Odell, former conductor
cite. tall and vigorous in her blue uni
form, which the B. r. T. has not yet
taken from her. graspinT the gavel. The
meeting place was the headquarters of
the Salvation Army, and 1t Is safe to
say that this cody place never harbored
such angry passions before. However,
the women took UP collection for the
S. A. before dispensing. and handed over
S23 to the Army az An earnest OF their
gratitude for hospitality.
Demands Made in Resolution.
Miss Wren supported Chairman odell,
with Mrs. Mary A. Murray as secretary.
The first business was the adoption Of
resolutions protesting against a law
| which on the plea Of protecting children
from working on railroads classes
women with children; declaring that
| night work IL not detrimental to the
health OF women; protesting against
laws which put women workers in a
class, separate from men as discrimina-
tory against women asking Gov. Smith
to call a special session Of the Legisla-
| ture to repeal the obnoxious law; and
| demanding that the organization respon.
sible for said law work with the L. X.
| T. women for its repeal.
After a number OF the women had told
how hard they felt It to be deprived OF
| their paying Jobs, many OF them with
children to support. Miss oReilly tried
| to gain the floor. She urged them to be
big and broad and not to forget the
! great fundamental truths which should
| underlie women's dealings with women"
but somehow the conductorettes and
| ticket sellers faced with the necessity of
| finding new Jobs couldn't bring their
minds TO consider broad fundamental
| truths calmly.
who are you and what do you know
| about this?" asked Chairman Odell curt
| ly OF Miss OReilly. Il never heard of
you before"
Il am a member OF the women's
Trade Union League, but had nothing
to do with the framing OF these bills"
began Miss O'Reilly.
You spoke for it at Cooper Union
cried Miss Wren. And Mrs. White
house wouldn't give the opponents more
than minute each to speak at that
| Cooper Union meeting"
How much money DO you get from
the Women's Trade Union League" de-
mAnded several voices.
| IAN I want is that women should
work together" Miss O'Reilly cried
above the rumpus. You can tear me
from limb to limb II you will"
| Violence Appears Imminent.
And for time 1t really seemed as II
they meant to.
They want us to go in their kitchens
and slave for few dollars a week
Yes, some of them told US they hadn',
enough domestics, and they thought the
kitchen was a better place for us than
| the street cars out In the open air.
cried a strapping girl in uniform.
Next committee was appointed &c
! see GOV. Smith and present the case OF
| the women, the Democrats among them
inclining to the opinion that he signed
the Lockwood bill without due knowl-
edge.
Every woman on the floor had her
story to tell OF the difficulties into which
her discharge had plunged her. anc
some OF the tales were sad There wa
Mrs. Helen Bixler, a pleasant faced
| blond haired little woman, whose hus-
band, lately back from serving Uncle
Sam in France. has been attacked with
hemorrhages of the lungs and is unab BILE
| to work. Another woman. n conduc.
torette, lost three brothers in France
| and there is now no one but her &c
work for the old father and mother.
A dark eyed, keen faced woman. who
| tdlu ItT Name was MRS. Nj AOney, HtOOO
up and wanted TO know how was she
to support her three children.
Sure the work is easy" cried Mrs
Jennie b. Chase, a lively little con-
ductorette. We all get fat on 1t.
weigh forty more pounds than when
went to work with the b. II. T. And
there's that conductorette standing be.
side me, she weighed only 125 pounds
when she took her job, and now she tips
the scales at $50. The bosses are grand
to us. Why. man ought TO be ASHAMED
TO spend his day In n car doing nothing
but pushing a button. 1t is no wori
for a man."
Miss Maggie Hinchey. labor reformei
and suffraRette. who has been working
for the b. r, T. for more than a year
agreed.
man. said the r. r. T. women would al
be willing to give up their jobs to sol
diers IL the latter wanted them.
Sure we would T. cried the conductor
ettese. But the soldiers don't wan
them. There's nothing in this soldier
talk; it's an excuse. What for ar,
they sending women out to work OF
farms2 Why not give the farm Jobs t.
soldiers7'
Miss O'Reilly declared that the B. r
r. could II It chose employ the womeI
In short shifts. keeping within the pro
visions OF the new law. but that 1t wa!
looking for an excuse to dismiss tn,
women. But the conductorettes woulC