The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-20
BY WILLIAM 3. sANsoRN.

Women's Wear. are threatened with
stiH further advance In costs; and
also with very serious delay in the
receipt OF fall and winter merchandise.
This statement and condition has broad
significance. It affects, or will affect,
every home and finally make greater
1nroads into every family income.
This IL the present outlook.
The clothing merchant is also begin
ming to go up In the air. His position
as to fall goods is the most precarious.
His costs have also been advancing,
strange as that may appear, when we
have all hoped for the telling of diff
ferent trade story. But what matters
as to the men, or what they wear?
The women and children are of the
first and last importance. That these
be properly and warmly clothed in
winter IL the first care of every good
father, and Of every loyal son and
brother; let US therefore discuss wom-
ems wear first.
Isn't 1t little too early to worry
about fall wear, do you ask? Not at
all. The weaving of the fabrics, deliV-
cry to manufacturers and the making
up for wear Is a matter of months,
besides. there Is the persistent every
day demand from the country, where
stocks run low from underbuying. In
fact the dry goods trade flows on for
ever, but the bulk of all wearables are
contracted for months in advance.
Suit and Cioakmakers Strike.
At 10 o'clock last Wednesday morn
ing, May 18th, the cloak and suit
workers in Greater New York walked
out quietly at the tap of bell. So
numerous were they that Is halls were
designated as meeting places and
headquarters during the strike. Every
sewing machine in the entire city
stopped on the hour and orderly pro-
cessions Of laughing, well-paid EN-.
ployes, both men and women, wendell
their ways to these halls to talk, lis
ten to labor leaders and to wait. That
there may be long weeks Of waiting
Is what Is most feared at this writing,
for 1t is the busy period with some
branches Of the trade, notably the
skirt makers, now in the height of
their season. 1t Is hoped, however,
that some sort Of a satisfactory COM
promise will be quickly reached.
We have designated these workers
as well paid" as indeed they are and
have been for some years. More than
this, back in 1910 some of the best
informed and philanthrophic men and
women of America focused their ef-
forts and influence for the betterment
OF all needle workers, and with won
derfully good effect. Sweatshops were
abolished; factories and shops were
transformed The light and ventila.
ton were improved and everything
made clean, sanitary and as safe from
fire as the construction permitted
The hours of labor were vigorously
enforced and curtailed and piece-work
payment arranged on what was &C.
cepted as not only fair but liberal
basis. Garment workers strikes had
been numerous and the sweatshop an
abomination, and because this was
true broad-minded men and women,
both in civil and governmental life,
co-operated with progressive manu-
facturers to inaugurate better work
ing and better paying conditions.
The Best Paid Employees
1t may surprise you to learn that
of all the trades in lines of important
manufacture that the needleworkers
now command the highest wages
Hoods heartbreaking Song Of the
Shirt" is now obsolete, and without
meaning No longer do Women si1
in unwomanly rags, plying needle ano
thread" not at least commercially, as
applied to the making of goods dis
played in our stores. And may We
all be thankful that this is true, fol
no man liveth to himself, alone. II
the very broadest moral sense we art
all "our brothers keeper"
In view of these indisputable fact'
let us glance for a moment over tn,
document the needleworkers hav'
asked the manufacturers to sign ant
note what this contract specificall.
asks as to wages-not for "piece
work." but by the day and for 4
hour week. They want pieceworl
labor abolished in favor of guaran
teed payment for time, regardless o
accomplishment in the given numbe
of hours.
Weekly Wages Demanded
AS we write printed copy of thf
document lies before US. If prirte
in 10-point type it would crowd a ful
page of this paper. 1t is longer tha
the moral law and has more proviso
than we care to count or enumerate
But we have given it careful rea6
ing. We desire not only to be JUS
but even generous and to make ever
due allowance to the members of tn
Joint Board of the Cloak, Suit. Skin
Dress and Refer Makers Unions c
New York"
The heart OF the whole contentio
Z is the MINIMUM weekly wage d,
l. manded, as follows:
Classification Weekly Wage
Cloak, Suit and Dress Cutters. .$42.0
Skirt Cutters 800
Buttonhole Makers ........... 400
Sample Makers .......... $50
Jacket, Dress, Coat, Skirt and
Refer Operators .......... 500
Jacket and Coat Finishers. -. 42.0
Piece Tailors ................. 42.0
Finisher Helpers ........... $3.50
Diapers ............. ESQ
Skirt and Dress Basters 1850. ESQ
Jacket, Dress and Refer Upper
Pressers .................. 800
Jacket and Refer Under Press