Newspaper Page Text
.The white-headed Senator Beail, himself a retired manufacturer, was
the first to recover.
Ina voice trembling with emotion, Beall addressed the defiantmilr
lionaires. t v
"CANT YOU MEN SEE THE REVOLUTION THAT IS COMING?"
HE-CRIED. "CAN'T YOU SEE THE CLASS STRUGGLE THAT YQU
ARE INEVITABLY GOING TO PLUNGE THE COUNTRY INTO BY YOUR
ATTITUDE?
. "JDON'T YOU; UNDERSTAND THAT THE TIME IS AT HAND WHEN
THE PEOPLE WILL ARISE AND' TAKE, BY ' FORCE IF NECESSARY,
THE. RIGHTS THAT YOU ARE DENYING THEM, THE RIGHTS GUAR
ANTEED TH.EM IN.THE CONSTITUTION.
" 'LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS!' 'THE PUR
SUIT OF HAPPINESS' ON $4 QR $5 A WEEK! 'LIBERTY' TO STARVE
TO DEATH OR TO SELL THEIR BODIES!
"WHY dON'T YOU MILLIONAIRES BE MEN AND RAISE THE PAY
OF YOUR WOMEN EMPLOYES' TO A LIVING STANDARD? ,WHY
DON'T YOU DO THIS NOW, VOLUNTARILY, FOR YOUR OWN SAKES?
"WE'RE ALL FAIRLY OLD MEN NOW. WE ALL HAVE TO.DIE
SOON. AND WHEN YOU MEN DIE YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR. MILLIONS
WITH YOU. WHY NOT DISTRIBUTE SOME OF YOUR SUPER
FLUOUS PROFITS AMONG YOUR UNDERPAip EMPLOYES, THE
PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOUR PROFITS, RIGHT NOW? WHY NOT QUIT
MAKING MONEY FOR A LITTLE WHILE' AND MAKE THE WORLD A
LITTLE BRIGHTER INSTEAD?" t
While .Beall was speaking one or two of the millionaire merchants
moved uncomfortably. But 'only one or two. Most of them, like. "Dapper
Jimmie" -Simpson of Marshall Field & Co., remained cold and unmoved. '
And when Beall had finished, "Simpson muttered:
"We've said all we had to. say." ' "
j - VNo, you haven't," said Lieut:-Gov. Barratt O'Hara. "Not quite all. :
"I have here a letter front the Women's Trade Union League- It seems'
that the women employes of the State street stores have been organizing
for their own protection.. And it also, seems that you gentlemen have been,
opposing their organization and have been firingysuch of the girls as you
discovered had attended organization meetings. NAre these charges true?"
'.There was a chorus of "Oh, no, we wouldn't do anything like that,"
from the merchants. But the chorus did not carry much conviction.
And Dennis F: Kelly, of Mandel Bros., lessened whatever small amount
of conviction it might have "carried by remarking;
"We don't believe that organization would, help our employes anyhow."
If Kelly were perfectly truthful when he said that he did not believe
that organization .would' help the State street store employes, it is only
natural to assume, that Mandel Bros, do not oppose organization.
If, organization won't help the employes it won't hurt the employers'
pocketbooks. . , ,
vBut Mahdel Bros, ar bitterly opposed to the organization of their em
ployes, and ready to go to almost any length to prevent it
After the secret session 'with the merchants was over, a Day Book
reporter talked with Lieut-Gov., O'Hara.
"Isn't'it true," he was asked, "that the merchants, once the doors were
locked behind them, defied the 'commission and said flatly" that they would
do nothing to,better the wages or working conditions of their employes?"
"I don't think I am liberty to answer that question," saiJ Q'Hava,.,
