Itoraeinf Told by Mary Macarthur, Chief Organized of Woman's Trade Unionism. H - ' ill f wr1 Mil n r tf' - WlrJt union movement l iTfv --U ' iWV Imf u ' tQr . TjJ I SECRETARY NAT. ASSOC. V C ll M tHVtA JrPl iM --vssrJj'ilS W ' . -l j Miss-sange js legal BY W. B. NORTHROP. WOMEN are looming large In Brit ish politics' Just now. Aside en tirely from the present agita tion by udult women for the right to vote, there has been, particularly dur ing this year, an enormous increase of the powers of working women. Silent ly, without apparently wishing to give the alarm. Industrial women have or ganized themselves so perfectly that today members of Women's Unions number about 13i,00fl. Their social status Is daily Increasing In import ance. There will soon visit the United Btates to take part In the great Wom en's Conference to be held In Chicago early in February one of the foremost women organizers of the United King dom. This is Miss Mary R. Macarthur, secretary and organizer of the Women's Trade Union League, which society la the hub of the women's Industrial movement. The Women's Trade Union League Is a federation of affiliated Women's Un ions. It has been almost entirely through this unique organization that Great Britain's women workers have been brought into a unity which is truly remarkable. Up to tr.is time. It has been popularly supposed that women lacked organizing faculty. Mutual Jealousies, fierce com petition of industrial strife and the psychology of woman herself were said to militate against any effective pull ing together. In fact, to form women Into a "combine" has been considered among the political Impossibilities. She was supposed to resemble the electrical fluid, the elements of which are "mu tually repulsive." "Organized Woman" Has Arrived. And yet, despite all these arguments, th "organized woman" has arrived. Today she presents a solidarity of in terest that serves as a model to the most compact man-run machine organ ization ever brought Into existence. The writer has just obtained from Miss Macarthur herself the exclusive story of, how this vast number of wom en, all representing divergent Interests, Slave bf-en combined, amalgamated and wrought Into a symmetrical, working, dynamic force, which Is exerting a pro found influence on Knglish industrial Ism today. The headquarters of the women's movement in England are in a big Mock of buildings on Clerkenwell road, just adjoining the Holborn Town Hall, In London. It was here that I recently found Miss Macarthur. She had just re turned from the north of England, where she had been telegraphed for In order to take part In a woman's "strike conference. If there is a trade dispute of any kind among members of the various unions with which the central league is affiliated, ten .chances to one Miss Macarthur will be carted in to arrange terms for both partie Though only in her 2Gth year, and possessing a vivacity that belies the seriousness of her character. Miss Mac arthur is possessed of tact, judgment and determination far beyond her years Miss Macarthur is tall, and wer it not for the fact that I have agreed to submit this article to her before pub lication I would say that she is hand some, with light golden hair, blue laughing eyes and a youthfulness that, in these days of owlish dignity, is as refreshing as a whiff of ocean spray in the sunlight. It might be added that Miss Macarthur Is simply adored by the hosts of working girls, who look up to her for counsel, advice and help in their various struggles against the people who earn their dally bread by the sweat of other people's brows. Leader Speaks of Herself. On making Inquiries as to the women's trade union movement. Miss Macarthur reluctantly consented to grant an Inter view In which she gives In " her own words an outline sketch of the Indus trial woman's position In England today. With reference to her early history Miss Macarthur said: "I was born in Glasgow In 18S0. and, at an early age, learned bookkeeping. My S- v - rfv 11 x ' 1 (SET SI 1 -- -rrw;:: ; XS t?Mn Ki" - f ft TRADE UNIOK T l ' . K, " ' ifi first employer was my own father. I took an Interest in Journalism in my early days, and It was through journal istic work that I got my first Insight into trade -unionism for women. "My connection with the women's move ment came about in a very singular way. I went to a labor meeting at Ayr. In Scotland one day for the purpose of writing a "skit" on the proceedings. It turned out to be the old story of going to scoff, -but rernainlng to pray. I be came Impressed with the truth and mean ing of the labor moveirlent, and it was not long before I had Joined forces with these very people. In due time I became a member of the Ayr branch of the Nation al Union rf Shop Assistants and Clerks. "After acting as delegate, and then first president of the Scottish Council of Shop Assistants, I became a member of the national executive committee of the union, being, the first woman to hold that posi tion. In 1903 I was a delegate to the Scottish Trade Union Congress. "Desiring a wider scope for my work I came to London In 1903, taking a po sition with a commercial firm. The sec retaryship of the Women's Trade Union League happening to become vacant Just at that time, I was appointed by the com mittee to that position. Foundation Laid by Lady Dllke. "The late Lady Dllke was, at that time, chairman of the league. I would like to mention here that the foundations of the present great success of the entire women's trade union movement were laid by Lady Dilke, who had worked for up wards of 20 years in the cause of trade unionism among women. Lady Dllke has been succeeded In the chairmanship of the league by her niece. Miss Gertrude Tuck well, who has more than amply justified all our expectations, and has advanced the cause of the woman labor movement far more than I can say. I consider that Lady Dilke sowed the seed of the har vest which we are now reaping. "To afford an idea of the numerical strength of the women trade union move ment in this country, I may say that al ready over 133,000 women are effectively organized; and the number is increasing every day. , "The upper grades of women's labor are being disentangled from the meshes of class prejudice and sham superiority which have ho long constituted the chief obstacle to their organization, this being evidenced by the marked growth of union Ism among women civil servants, and by hundreds of women telephone operators, telegraphists, typists and others through out the country. "Not only are women of higher intelli gence taking advantage of organization, but working girls throughout the British Isles have recognlezd and grasped the Idea of the power they may obtain by unity. We now have effective organiza tions of women tailoresses, tea-packers, book-hinders, milliners and dressmakers, paper-bag makers, shop assistants, tex tile workers, in fact, of nearly every de partment of woman's work capable of be ing organized. Influence Making Itself Felt. "Already women's unions in the United Kingdom have made themselves felt in many directions, and now employers are beglning to pay more respect to the claims of women in industrial life. Almost dally we have to deal with cases of oppression and Injustice to working women, and we are endeavoring to get all employers of women's labor to treat these workers with more justice. "For Instance, last year we managed to help numbers of women in the matter of excessive hours, insufficient meal-time,-'time-cribbing' by employers, bad sanita tion, over-crowding, dangerous machinery and materials, fines and deductions, and the other devices of the more unscrupu lous employers of women's labor. "In our legal advice department, con ducted by Miss" Sophy Sanger, we were able to render substantial service to a number of women who, otherwise, would have been compelled to submit to the ut most injustice. "It might be interesting for you to know that the assistance rendered by the Woman's Trade Union League is not wholly confined to women. In one case, we took up the claim of a man who had his arm torn off In a wringing machine. We brought proceedings for him under THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, NOVEMBER, 18, 1906. the employers' liability act and got "Mm 930 damages. To give a few instances of some of our claims, I might mention the case of a girl who lost four fingers in a calender machine. She received pay ments at the rate of 11.50 a week for nearly two years, and then her case was settled through our legal depart ment for $315. Had It not been for our organizatron. she would have received nothing. "Another girl lost two fingers of her left hand in an unfenced calender ma chine. We threatened proceedings, and got her t250 by negotiation. We deal with large numbers of claims for con densation of various klds, and obtain re lief for hundreds who, without our aid, would have had no remedy. "It would be Impossible in the space of a short article to give even the briefest account of our work. A glance over the field of women and women's work gener ally In this country Is certainly full of encouragement for our cause. "Apart from the trade union move- Chuckwagon Cal oh Indian Uprisin Reformation of Red Man From Red Man's Point of View. By Arthur Chapman. (Copyright, 1906, by the Great West Syn dicate.) "SEE a bunch o' Ute Injuns has been marchin' through the West, like a lot o' copper-colored COxeys, "I scatterin' consternation and empty bottles In then- wake." said Chuckwagon Cal., from the shade of the mess wagom "It shore must be hard work to git up an Injun scare these days, requlrln' the united efforts of all the soldiers and war correspondents that ain't workin' over time in the Phil'peens and Cuby. It must be a great Journalistic trainln' fer a cub reporter to git sent out on the trail of a bunch o' Injuns off the reservation. The cub goes to the camp, where the Injuns are livln' a life of enjoyment that is half aboriginal and the other half the es sence of civilized refine'ment. He sees a, squaw, with her hair done up In the latest pompadour, and wearln' an elk tooth dress that 'd bring three thousand In open market, a-hangin' a piece o dog meat on a pole to dry in the sun. " 'Horrors!' says the reporter, "they are dryln' the fleeh o' the human victims they have slaughtered on their long march. And he proceeds 'to write a "column o' notes about it. "While he Is writin' the big chief steps outen his tepee and walks over and sets down beside the young reporter. The chief wears the latest style o' mall order clothes, and a gambler's size dl'mond glis tens in his starched shirt bosom. All this the reporter notes down In his book, say in" the clothes and ' the dl'mond has doubtless been stole f'm the body o" some white victim. Then he looks at the chief and says: "' 'I wish you could talk United States, old boy, but as it Is I guess I'll have to pipe up a bloodthirsty interview with you.' , "But the chief, who has been lookin" at the notes as they have been wrote, says: " "Pardon me, my super-enthusiastic young friend. I see you have but a faint Idee of the achievements andaims of the modern red man. Every man In our ex pedition has a college education, and, in addition kin mix any drink found in the Bar-Tenders' Manual. Speakin' fer my self, I have been through Carlisle andll have had the exquisite Joy of breakin' the ribs and gougln' out the eyes o' some of your star football players. I have assim ilated all the art atmosphere there is lyln' around loose In the great European galleries plcter, not shootin", galleries. I haven't globe-trotted with Buffalo Bill's show fer nothln". Every lady with us we simon-pure Americans no longer use the term squaw has been eddicated in domestic science, basket-ball, and how to button a shirtwaist down the back, and re & t -KvV ".I i IT. C-.-rt ' I lr GERTRUDES- TUCKWELL OF THE WOMEN'S TRADE VNJON Lt-AGyt, ment, women have come prominently for- j ward In political and social life. The value of their work in local affairs has been recognized, and many appointments J of women to public posts have taken place during the last year or so. I might mention the appointment of Miss Phillip pa Garrett Fawcett by the London County council to an educational post at a sal- ary of $2000; and also that of the Hon. Maud Lawrence as chief woman inspector under the Board of Education. Miss Ad ler and Mrs. Oakeshott members of the Women's Industrial Council have also received County Council appointments. Recently, a number of women sanitary in- kin juggle a chafing dish In a way to make a white girl green with envy. " "Our objict In leavin' our reservation, continues the chief, "Is to seek some more Ideal place of abode. The white man has separated us f'm everything but a little strip o" barren land, where he would never live 'himself, yet he cannot under stand why it is impossible for us to re main there and be happy. We wish to found a community in a place better adapted to the pursoot of happiness. This community will be found along the linesj laid down by Edward Bellamy, Upton Sinclair, and other natural born reform ers, who even in childhood couldn't drop Into a doze without dreamin' a dream of a rose-lined Utopia. Set this before my white brothers if you will, and ask them to aid, not hinder, us In our great work.' "This leaves the cub reporter summut dazed, but by the time he reaches the telegraft- office he recovers his journalis tic bearln's. " 'I've been sent out here to write up an Injun scare," he says to himself, 'and not to report the theories of a body of advanced Socialists." So he sets down and telegraf ts a reg'lar old-fashioned Injun campaign story that sets everybody wild with excitement. Soon there is nine reg'ments of Infantry and cavalry, to say nothin" of wagons loaded with deadly ammunition and canned goods, campin' on the trail of the scholarly chief and his wanderln' communists. The bunch Is rounded up and the chief and his subs go to Washington and are given some rides in a red auto, and it ends by the hull out fit goln' back to the reservation and livln' in continued onhapplness, while the cub reporter is hailed as a great war corre spondent, and the General who lea the troops on the trail writes a continued story of Jiis thrillln' experiences fer the Muckrakers' Manual. "The hull trouble with the Injun has been that he hasn't been able to git quite up to the white man's viewpoint, while the white man ain't ever been able to put himself In the red man's place. It is all right to talk about the red man droppln' all his red ways with his blanket, and livln' like a. white man; but 'spose some day the inhabitants of Mars swooped down in airships and conquered tis white rulers of this footstool. 'Spose the Mars folks, beln' far more advanced in civiliza tion than we are, huddled us up in bunches, to git us outen the way, and drove us onto places called reservations. 'Spose they kep' cuttin' down the size o these reservations till there wasn't much good farmland left, and then told us to go and make farmers of ourselves. We'd nat'rally make a failure o' that, and would break out every once In a while to VV Is XT: x w This INoted Leader Will Tell Americans How She Manages Strikes and Lockouts. spectors, factory Inspectors, and other important appointments' have been made while about 70 women serve on county and borough committees. "On the question of the right of women to rote. I might mentlon that this matter Is a burning quesion among such represen tative organizations as the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, the Worn. ken's National Liberal Association, the Irish -Women's Suffrage Association, the Women'ef Soelal and Political Union, the Womeais. Co-Operatlve Guild, and other Inrfiorrant organizations. "Numbers of very prominent members of Parliament have the interests of our wander back to little old Noo York or some other fav'rlte stamptn' ground. Then a lot x( the Mars folks would chase us .with machine guns and 'ud call us disturbers of the peace and red-handed savages, and 'ud cuss us 'cause we wasn't able to assimilate the civilization they had been a thousand years In acoumu latln', all In one generation or less. We'd go back to our reservations feelln' sore at the Mars people, I guess, and express in" about the same sentiments the red man sometimes hands to the whites. "The Injun long ago quit lookin' fer consistent treatment. The white man tosses him the beglnnln' of an.eddicatlon, and then, before he kin make practical use of it, the red man is sent back to the teepee, where eddication Is a draw back. Nat'rally the Injun says,' "What's the use? and shucks his $3.60 shoes fer his old moccasins, and quits graspin" fer higher things, and jest grasps fer the whisky bottle. The white man Is wlllln' to be a brother to the red man jest so fur, and then he turns around and treats the Injun like a stepfather. He'll give him a football eddication. but 11 never give him a job; and he'll cut off the Injun's rations and hair. Jest fer discip line, but he'll never cut him loose fro the bad inflooences of the reservation." "What do you think will be the future of the Indian?" asked the Tenderfoot. "Well, unless the white man changes his Incubator system radical, the Injun is goln' to have about as much future as 'a billiard balj In a hatchln' o' hen's eggs." Candle Light. Mrs. O. R. Durston. When Summer comei. to bed I go While yet the moon la low. And when my mother leaves. I ty, "Don't take the candle quite away." My, mother laughs and ey, "Good-night, You have the stars for candle-light." And then I play from every tree Tne singing crickets sing to me I play the moon's a silver dish Filled with goodies If I wish. I hear the night hawk's funny cry And play a fairy rldea him by. And then and then I seem to hear The crickets' song sound very queer. The moon grows dim and dips and swings, A if It wore some ellver wlnga. And then I sleep all through the night ' With Juat the atars for candle-light. When Statesmen Go to Jail. Waahington Herald. The days have come, my worthy friends, when statesmen go to Jail. You're apt to see one any time hauled up before the rail. What fun to step Into a court where other ld!er gaze. And see a Senator sent down to serve hla 30 days! They flew quite high for many years; bit timea are altered now. They greet ua common people with a low and- cringing bow. They dare not look ua in the eye, leat we a cop should hall. The time has come, my worthy frlenda, when etatesmen go to Jallt s . n cause at stake, and they aid us with help, advice and support in every way. Women Mus Be Reckoned With. "Altogether, there Is no shadow of doubt that women have come Into Indus trial and political life to stay. In spite of the sentimental ideal of women's place being the home, woman has to be reck oned with In modern Industrialism. This being the case, her only hope of effec tive accomplishment is along the -lines of trade unionism. There are more women trade unionists today than there were men represented at the first trade union congress held at Sheffield 40 years ago. "By hereditary training and environ ment, women have been. left far behind men In development, and yet it Is a fact that there are now in Great Britain about 135,000 women organized out of a possible 5,000,000, while there are but 2,000, 000 men trade unionists out of a possible 11,000.000. The figures are anything but discouraging. "I would like to refute one or two fal lacies statements concerning women gen erajln these matters. First there Is no t rent sex Inability to recognize the necV.ty for combination. Secondly, the praHSbllity of marriage is not the insur mountable obstacle we.re often led to be lieve that it Is. Of course, we are forced to recognize that. Indirectly, the conse quent lack of permanence in women's employment militates against the facility of their organization, because it discour ages the acquiring of technical Instruction and lowers the standard of women's work. Forcing Vp Wages. "The cause and consequence of women's lack of organization Is the low wages Flour Sold for $20,000 a Pound American Patriotism Aroused in a Nevada Mining Camp. THE costliest flour .that St Louis ever baked Into cakes brought $20, 000 a pound, and ginger snaps that It produced sold for $1 each. Even at that high price people bought them by the dozen, says the Globe Democrat. It was one of the rare Instances when the high price of foodstuffs comes as a blessing, for every cent of the money went to swell the fund of the sanitary commission or ganized by Dr. Henry W. Bellows, of Boston, during the Civil War, which fur nished more than $15,000,000 in supplies and $5,000,000 in money to relieve the suf ferings of the Federal troops.' The man whose act Instigated a move ment that caused a single 50-pound sack of flour worth $15 to produce upward of $1,000,000 is now living In Sycamor, 111. At the age of TO years he is the County Surveyor of De Kalb County, and Is one of the best-known citizens of Northern Illinois. The story that he tells Is full of human Interest from start to finish. In 1864 the mining town of Austin, Nev., was about to vote on the question as to whether It would incorporate and elect a full set of town officers. On one side pf the municipal contest was a man named K. G. Grldley and on the other side was a citizen of the name of Herrlck. Gridley bet Herricks that his side would win; if it didn't he would carry a sack of flour on his shoulder from his cabin to Herrlck's place at the opposite side of the town, a mile distant. " Herrlck was to do the same If he lost. There was a deal of wartime political feeling and It was agreed that If Grldley, who was born In Tennessee but was a loyal Northerner, should lose he would have to keep step to the music of "Old John Brown," played by a brass band engaged for the occasion. If Herrlck had te carry the flour he would do so to the enlivening strains of "Dixie." Gridley's side lost and all of the candi dates on Herrlck's side were elected. When It came time for Gridley to make good in his election wager there was a tremend ous outpouring of people to witness the event. The crowd on the sidewalks and In the street marched along, singing the words of the familiar song until the can yons fairly resounded with their efforts. The sack of flour had been decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, with a small flag at each corner. After Gridley had turned the sack over to Herrlck the former offered to pay him $25 for the flour. Herrlck at once said that he could have it, and that he would turn the money over to the fund of the sanitary commission, which had been or ganized to relieve suffering in battle fields and hospitals. This was the spark that only needed to be Ignited to set on fire a noble project. Mr. Armstrong, who had gone from Mil waukee to the Far West before the war broke out. was a witness of the affair and he said that he wanted the flour, too, and that he would give $30 for it. In a momenc the Idea seemed to blaze into the greatest enthusiasm. Grldley, Her rlck and others kept on bidding until the 43 00 for women workers. Those wages. In unskilled trades, average $1.60 a week; and we cannot get efficient organization until the wage-standard Is raised. While protective industrial legislation will do much In this direction, muqh can also be done to raise the low wages of women workers In unskilled trades by effectively organizing the higher grades of women's labor. This Is seen in Lancashire, where the strong organization of women textile workers has indirectly raised the wages paid to many other classes of women workers. "In attempting to organize women there as in everything else, a psychological moment a tide whjch must be taken at the flood.- It Is significant that many of the successful organizations recently formed have been the result of some sudden encroachment on the rights of women workers. Women are often Inca pable of grasping anything which does not administer to their Immediate wants; and It needs the practical object lesson of a real grievance to appeal to themv It is then that the lesson of permanent unity can be presented to them, and It is then that the opportunity of forming them Into a union may be taken. A strike of or ganized workers should always be utilized to form a trade union among them. "New recruits to the army of organized labor among women must learn that a union Is not an automatic machine into which they can drop their -pennies and from which they can Immediately draw out good conditions, and higher wages without any further trouble. They must learn that trade unionism is not magic; that It entails loyalty, self-sacrifice, self control; that it stands for the greatest good for the greatest number; and thai the Interests of the Individual must al ways be subservient to the common Inter ests of all. "Women's trade unions are developini in their members the faculties of observa tion and deduction, and the capacity for administrative work. Trade union are bringing new and wider Interests to wom en workers and educating them to be better citizens, so that, living a fuller life, they need no longer look to mar riage as a way of escape from the monot ony and drudgery of existence. By united interests they are better able to under take life's responsibilities they become better fitted physically and mentally to be the mothers of the coming race." price reached $45. when It was raised by $2.50 bids until it got to $30. At this juncture Mr. Armstrong pro posed that the crowd march to Main and Cedar streets, the principal corner of the' town; that the band should go along and play "Dixie," just to put" the other side in good humor. The situation was an nounced to a still larger crowd, when Gridley started the ball rolling by bid ding $200 for the flour. It ran up by fives and tens until a butcher bid $460. He flunked on his bid, but another citi zen named M. J.' Noyes said 'that he would take the butcher's bid. and he paid the money for the flour. Noyes offered It to Ondley for $200 and he took It. Then the latter put it up again and fhe bidding continue! until at the close of the day the sack brought $fino. Grldley then offered to take the sack and sell it In all of the towns, villages and cities in Nevada and California, his expenses only to be deducted from the proceeds. He said he would give three months of his time free of eharge. On this basis the enterprise was start ed. Most of the towns had got wind of what was being done and the information spread to distant Western localities. Wells, Fargo & Co. gave Grldley a pass that carried him and his sack of flour over their stage lines anywhere in that country and the Overland Telegraph Com pany agreed .to frank all the messages that he cared to send to carry out his programme. One day, carrying the sack of flour on his shoulder, he left Austin by the overland Stage to arrive In Virginia City by a P. M. the next day. A band had been engaged and prominent citizens met him in Flowery canyon and escorted him to Virginia City. A platform had been erected and Gridley carried his burden up In plain sight of a great concourse of people. That evening the bidding reached $2000. By this time a great rivalry had arisen among the towns as to which should out do the others in boosting the 50 pounds of breadstuff to an unheard-of price. From Virginia City, with a brass band at his heels, Gridley marched over to Gold Hill, where the flour brought a total of $6200. Sliver City promptly raised this sum by $200 and Dayton climbed up to $6800. Then Sllve City tried to outbid its neighbor, but failed. Gold Hill raising its figure to $8027. Virginia City gave the scheme another boost, reaching the sum of $10,000; Carson City bid $33"0. Esmeralda raised $2000, Ophir $1000. Washoe City $1500. The great American staple In this way was sold over and over again until an aggregate of more than $300,000 in gold was gathered In and turned over to Dr. Bellows' commission. Sales were made in all of the towns of Nevada and Cali fornia, until an enormous sum had been realized for the good cause. Finally the flour was put Into a buck skin sack and shipped to the sanitary fair at St. Louis. It was placed on spe cial exhibition and thousands paid liber ally to get a look at It. After the olose of the fair the product of a California wheat field was mixed with a great quantity of everyday flour and baked into ginger snaps that readily sold for $1 a. cake. It has been estimated that upward of $1,000,000 was realized from the hun dreds of sales and its final disposition. ' A