Year: 1871

The Wholesale Strike In BaltimOre-The


Question of Female Operatives.


The Baltimore American Of Yesterday has the
following upon the shoemakers' troubles in that


On Saturday afternoon last q meeting of the
Shoe and Leather Board of Trade was held for
the purpose of discussing the causes which have
led to The rupture between the boot and shoe
manufacturers and their workmen. The meet
ing was a large one, and was called to order by
Mr.. Smith, President of the association.


Mr.. Smith said that it appears the female
operatives want to exact unfair unreasonable,
and unjust obligations from the manufacturers.
The trouble is not question of wages, the ladies
saying that they are not oppressed in that quar-
ter, but they exact of the manufacturers that
they shall employ only those females whom the
Society of the Daughters of Crispin may select
This they claim as protection, but, said Mr..
Smith, at the same time they are protecting
themselves they are making unequal exactions
upon others. They take the prerogatiVe of
saying who shall be employed-a right which,
Mr.. Smith thought belonged to the employer.


Mr. Smith alluded to the fact that, as general
thing, female labor is but poorly paid and knew
of no branch so bad in that respect as the cloth-
ing trade. He regarded the prices paid for
making clothing as being a disgrace to hu-
manity, and he could not understand how men
could call themselves Christians who would
compel woman to give her full time in making
clothing and receive at the end of the week 81
to 3d. which sum, as Mr.. Smith contended, was
about the average amount of wages paid to
sewing women who work upon coats and pants.
He regarded the fitting department of the
boot and shoe business as being the most re-
munerative employment for females that car
be obtained in the city. They average $12, aud
many earn as high as $25 per week. The bosses
DO not say that they are receiving too much
money, and the speaker advocated the paying
of such wages. The men average $50 per week
and good workman can earn $50 Der week;
and from the fact that the females receive such
good pay other help from the cloak-making and
other departments focked to the shoe factories
for work. This influx, said Mr.. Smith, caused
the Daughters of st. Crispln to revolt, and they
expressed their determination not TO allow auy
girl or woman to come into the works but To
keep the work for the few that had it; and thew
say to the manufacturers, "If you are not satis-
fled with our action,we will depart and no longer
labor for you"


Mr.. Smith said the action of the strikers
affects the general interests of the city and was
of such importance that the Shoe and Leather
Board of Trade should take into consideration
q measure looking to an adjustment of the diff
Guilty. He said that 1t was in the reach of the
manufacturers to bring In Chinese labor, but he
was not prepared for that movement unless the
present difficulty cannot be settled. He believed
the true policy of the manufacturers would be
TO resist the unfair action of the strikers, for,
said he, If they yield now, to-morrowa far more
oppressive measure may be imposed.


Mr, Stern said that the htting department is