Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-06
Women'S Trade Union Group
Head Calls for Action
on Legislation.
LAWS ON HOURS LACKING,
FARLEY DELEGATES TOLD
Textile Field Particularly Lax,
Speaker Says-Northern Aid
Is Seen Need.

sharply by Miss Rose Schneiderman
president Of the National Women's
Trade Union League, today in her ad-
dress opening the eleventh national
convention of the league in the Grace
Dodge Hotel.
There are hardly any labor laws OF
any kind on the statute books in most
of the Southern States, either for men
or women" she declared. There Is no
legal limitation of hours for work either
by day or by night-in fact, the night
shift is usually the longer.
THE unsophisticated visitor to the
South is likely to look in vain for women
with careers in this paradise where
women have equal opportunity with
men to be exploited, but all she would
find would be thousands of overworked
and underpaid women"
Speaks in General Terms.
Miss Schneiderman spoke in general
terms and did not undertake to limit
her description of labor conditions to
particular industries or localities. Her
statements were accepted, however, as
a commentary on the textile Held eSpe-
clally ana as TellcCblOIl Va COAlAAbAOAAo
found by the leagues field represent
atives in Elizabethton, Tenn, where I'M
satisfactory conditions in the textile
industry first became evident in the
South.
An intensive membership drive in
the South incorporating a demand for
a shorter work week and abolition OF
night work, was urged by Miss Matilda
Lindsay of Clarendon, Va, the league S
SoTe Il tot fyTn in g.
port based on a survey OF Southern
mills.
The South is beginning to think in
dustrially." she reported, but the proc
eSS is painful and slow. A number OF
Southern people believe that some
thing has to be done to awaken the
Southern worker as well as the COM
munity to the Importance of indus
trial questions, but the number who
are willing to take an active part in
bringing about the awakening is
small"
William Green Is Speaker.
The Southern situation as reflected
by the strike of rayon workers at
Elizabethton, Tenn, was discussed also
by William Green, president of the
American Federation of Labor, who
welcomed the convention delegates. and
by Miss Elizabeth Christman in her re-
port as secretary-treasurer.
Mr.. Green asserted that employers
are as hostile to collective bargaining
as they were two decades ago. He
pledged cooperation of the American
Federation to the woman's organization
and in commenting on the Southern
situation, said: In Tennessee today we
find a peaceful community changed
into military camp. There still is OPP
~ no V1lQn the
workers choosing their own represent
atives to appeal for them in matters OF
wages and working conditions"
The Southern situation does not
differ widely from the condition in the
North as far as the industrial workers
are concerned" Miss Christman said.
Long hours, night work and low pay
appear to be the concern of compare
lively few people outside the workers
themselves, and as for group express
sion, these workers are for the most
part tnarticulate.
THE Elizabethton strike is of Spe-
cial significance" she asserted, because
it involves one of the very newest in
dustries. one which bids fair to sup
plant in large measure other textile
operations The rayon industry is in
creaSing in gigantic strides. 1t has been
said that the du Pont Co. and the Ger
man Corporation at EliZabethton have
already put $20o,OOo,ooO into this in
dustry"
In addition to Mr. Green, the follow
ing persons identified with the labor
movement directly and indirectly ex-
tended greetings to the convention,
which will be in session through Satur-
Gay: Mrs. Edith c. Paul, president OF
the Women's Trade Union League Of
the District; Miss Belle Sherwin, preSi-
dent of the National League of Woman
Voters; James L. Noonan, representing
the Central Labor Union of the Dis
trict: Miss Charl Williams, representing
the National Federation of Business and
Professional Women's Clubs, and Miss
Frances Perkins, industrial commits
sioner of the Department of Labor, New
York State.
Officers Visit President.
Officers and delegates to the conven-
ton paid their respects to President
Hoover at the White House at 1890
O'Clock.
Unless the women of the North
speedily come to the aid of Southern
workers. Miss Schneiderman said, the
Southerners ARE in serious danger of
losing their hardly-won standards OF
hours and wages"
The league president urged that trade
unionism be extended among woman
employees in clerical work and employe:
in beauty parlorS. Every year thou
sands of young girls are turned out from
our commercial business schools anc
let loose on a glutted market" she said
THAT conditions are likely to become
worse is evident because of the con
Stantly growing mechanical devices
which are being introduced with thu
inevitable result Of diminishing the de-
mand for skilled workers and furthe
intensifying competition among thu
half-baked products of these business
school mills"
Urges Local Cooperation.
Urging that local leagues interes
themselves in making the campaign l.
organize beauty parlor workers Nation
wide. she said that during the pas
few years beauty shops have sprung U
all over the country in countless mum
bers. reaping for the owners tidy profit
and for the workers only long hours an
meager pay envelopes.
Tine problem of the woman in indus
try is becoming increasingly more dit
ficult" she asserted. The transfer
character of the Woman's place in Tn
store, workshop and Office is gradual
being eliminated. Marriage is no longe
a guarantee against the life sentence c
having to earn ones own living and TN
less economical conditions affectin
workngmen change for the better, tn
married woman in industry Is here
Stsy"