Evening star., 1941-05-11

least one month. When the family
goes to Crosse lie it will be easy for
him to fly up there. Mrs. Knudsen
has never flown but she doesn't OBJ
ject to his flying. But she likes for
him to let her know when he does
and to be sure and check the
weather ahead first.
Mrs. Hillman Is as Busy
As Her Active Husband.
While Mr. Hillman is busy earn
ing his dollar-a-year in Washing
ton, his lively dark-haired wife. the
former Bessie Abramowitz of Chi
cago, is directing educational courses
for the Laundry Workers Union in
New York.
There is no spare time on her
hands. There never has been. She
and Mr.. Hillman were among the
five original organizers of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers in
1914 in Chicago. Side by side, they've
worked and watched that organiZa-
ton grow until now it has 265 900
members.
/ Theirs was a factory romance.
/ They had both BEEN born in Lithu-
ania. She had come over with her
/ family when a child. and he in
1907, when 20 years old. They met
/ in mems wear factory in Chicago.
! She sewed on buttons and he was a
cutter.
Sidney and Bessie worried about
the long hours and the small wages.
Something should be done. In 1910
Mr.. Hillman led the garment work.
ers in Chicago in a successful strike
for unionization and better work.
ing conditions.
-Four years later Mr. Hillman be-
came convinced that the skilled
craftsmen in the United Garment
Workers were not enough concerned
with the plight of the unskilled. and
with Bessie with him in the ven-
ture, the two with three others
formed the Amalgamated.
They planned that the Amalza-
mated was to be more than lust q
union to work for better wages and
shorter hours. 1t was to be "a way
of life" Its members through edu-
cation were to learn what to do with
shorter hours and better pay-how
better to enjoy both.
In 1915 Mr.. Hillman became presi-
dent Of the Amalgamated and in
that year he and Bessie married.
The Amalgamated grew and the
Hlllmans moved to New York. They
live there now in an apartment on
Twenty-third street.
Much They Planned
Has Been Accomplished.
They have seen much they
planned for the Amalgamated ma
terialize. Bessie Hillnan studied
| that she might encourage educa-
tional programs. The Amalgamated
sponsored a s4,500000 apartment
house project in New York for its
members. Mrs. Hillman helped work
out the architectural and decorat-
ing details.
Mrs. Hillman's alert mind is ever
on the range for new ideas. She
reads widely. She speaks several
languages German. Eng
lish and some Polish. Modern art
interests her. She sees from 25 to
30 plays season.
In manner she is vivacious and
friendly, interested in people and
their problems. A dark-eyed. oval
faced brunette, she wears her hair
in a bun.
Two daughters were born to the
HillmanS. Philoime, %, who studied
political science at Oberlin College,
is in Washington working in a Sec
ton Of her dads division in the
Office of Production Management
for the experience. But she is not
on the Government payroll. A slim,
attractive girl, she is very serious
about it all.
| The other daughter, Selma, 20, a
graduate of the American Academy
OF Dramatic Arts. recently married
Irving Lerner of New York.
Like Mr.. Knudsen. Mr.. Hillman
tries every now and then to get away
to New York to see how his home
fires are burning Mrs Hillman has
been down for dinner at the White
House and for other occasions.