In
the middle of February, 1902 Adolph Strasser, who had been one of the five men
to organize the convention of 1886 that would lead to the formation of the American
Federation of Labor, made the mistake of pointing out that women were taking
the jobs of men in the making of cigars.
“Women are entering the shops and factories from every side and taking
the places of men,” he said. “They have
no conception of the trials they are bringing on their brothers and fathers by
their willingness to accept positions of all kinds.” [Chicago Tribune, February 21, 1902]
 |
| Mary McDowell |
On
February 20 Miss Mary McDowell of the University of Chicago Settlement
made her res[pmse in an address before the Woman’s Union Label league at the Masonic
Temple building. She pointed out that on
the city’s southwest side women were taking the places of men at the great
stockyards of the city. “They are
entering the packing-houses by the score, and with each who enters a man is
forced out. They are doing everything
except the killing. Strange as it may
seem, they are wielding the knife, and with great dexterity.”
On
the following day he Chicago Tribune
verified that assertion.
“Between 5,000 and 6,000 women and girls are on the pay rolls of the
various Stock-Yards houses,” the Tribune reported. “They form 75 percent of the employees of the
canning factories.”
In
a trip through the packing plant of Libby, McNeill & Libby females were
found who were more than willing to respond to the brouhaha. “Jennie Laughan said, “Like my work? Sure I do.
The pay beats that of my sister down on State street all hollow. Why, I was off two days of last week and
still made $9. Don’t think for a minute
that I am going to give up this job to any man.
Cutting him out? Sure I am, but
what’s the dif’? I would like to tell
Miss McDowell a few things.” [Chicago Tribune, February 22, 1902]
In
Laughan’s family her father made $15.00 a week, her brother $12.00, her
sister $6.00 and young Jennie made $10.00, almost a quarter of the family’s
income. “Suppose my sister and me were
to live at home and not make a cent? We would be loose in the pocket $16 a week,
and that goes a big ways,” she said. “My
father’s in the yards, and so is my brother.
I ain’t cut them out of no job.”
 |
| Women at Libby, McNeill & Libby trimming sausage meat, 1902 Chicago Tribune Photo |
The
Treasurer of the Libby, McNeill & Libby, Edward Tilden, was effusive in his
praise for the girls and women working for the company. “Such work is better done by girls than by
men, and we always have had them do it. We
are proud of our plant and proud of our girls.
They are all contented and draw good wages. They dress well and have money, and you will
not be able to find one that agrees with Miss McDowell.”
The
source of disagreement with Miss McDowell’s remarks came about as a reaction
against her assertion that before long women and girls would be working jobs
that were actually involved with the slaughter of the animals themselves.
An
official at Swift’s vehemently denied the assertion. “Nonsense!
This is a packing-house and we employ girls. We have them handle our sewing machines. They pack butterine and they are in the
sausage department. They draw good wages
and do well. One has but to see the
slaughter pen to realize that Miss McDowell is wrong. Even the killing of chickens will never be in
the hands of women.”
The
source of disagreement with Miss McDowell’s remarks was a reaction
against her assertion that before long women and girls would be working jobs
that were actually involved with the slaughter of the animals themselves.
A
n
official at Swift’s vehemently denied the assertion. “Nonsense!
This is a packing-house and we employ girls. We have them handle our sewing machines. They pack butterine and they are in the
sausage department. They draw good wages
and do well. One has but to see the
slaughter pen to realize that Miss McDowell is wrong. Even the killing of chickens will never be in
the hands of women.”
 |
| Stockyard Workers in 1918 Chicago Daily News Photo Archives |
Posts
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