SWEAT SHOPS | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Apr 25, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 17.

SWEAT SHOPS.

SWEAT shop is a term that is applied to a class of dens in which human beings work for the very smallest pittance on which they can live. To bring the evils of this system again before the readers of the SIGNS, we quote a few paragraphs from a report recently made by Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin, before the Industrial Sub-commission, in Chicago:—

"There are 13,000 men, 11,000 women, 500 boys, and 1,600 girls engaged in the garment-makers' trade in Chicago. The unorganized condition of this trade brings about peculiar results. The boss sweaters, contrary to the general belief, are growing poor as a result of the constant reduction in prices.

"Of the thirty-six shops visited a year ago, we found one-third had moved, which in itself shows poverty. At another place visited I found a woman, assisted by a consumptive-looking girl of sixteen years, finishing overalls, at ten cents a dozen pair. This finishing consists of turning up the bottoms, working the buttonholes, and sewing on the buttons. This woman had three children attending school. She and the girl worked continually, and the two earned thirty-five cents a day.

"Young girls are subjected to much harm in these trades. The enormous number of girls from 16 to 20 years of age employed in this capacity is appalling and certainly is a menace to the future generation."

Another witness before the same commission said:—

"The evil of the sweat-shop system is the irregularity of the work. Poor people work night and day for two months, then business becomes slack, and they do nothing for three or four months."

Think of the misery that comes to a family that has to pay rent and buy fuel (or rather freeze for want of fuel in a cold place like Chicago) and clothing and provisions with but thirty-five cents a day! And then consider further that this income is not regular. They may be driven with work for a short time, and then have to do without for a much longer period.

All of this suffering is in one of the principal cities of a land that boasts that it is "Christian." It is in a city that contains professors of Christianity who have incomes of millions annually. It is in a city where it is eloquently taught that the time for the millennium is at hand, yes, that it has even already begun.

Now ask yourself the serious question, Is it like Christ to enjoy all the luxuries that millions of dollars bring, and pass with closed eyes every day in a luxuriant equipage right by the very doors of such destitution and suffering? The Son of God devoted His life to ministering to the necessities of the poor and needy, and in this He set an example for all who should ever after follow Him. And is not the Christianity a mere name, a hollow hypocritical profession only, when it passes without concern the sufferings of these poor "sweated" workers?

It is true that some hearts are touched, and they are doing all they can to relieve the distress. But there are so few who feel any concern over the matter that it is impossible for them to supply all the relief that is needed.

One of the darkest sides of this picture is that many of those who are exacting such grinding labor from these poor people make the claim of being Christians. And when the number of Christians is counted, these go in among the rest to swell the sum as it appears in the lists of the statistician. But can such people be called Christians indeed? No follower of the real Christ can find a heart in him that will grind any one, much less those who are so poor as to be helpless.

Then is it not perfectly evident that the facts in the case do not warrant any one in saying that we have reached the dawning of what is popularly known as the millennium? This world was never so full of grinding greed and covetousness. The outlook for the conversion of the world was never so dark as now. But he who really studies and understands the prophecies knows that covetousness, and the oppressing of the poor by the rich, are among the things that are to especially mark the last days. Any one who is at all acquainted with the Lord's dealings with the children of men, knows perfectly well that He can not much longer endure the conditions of wickedness that are filling this whole world with such deep distress. He will surely fulfil His promise to send His Son to this world the second time, and that glorious day can not long be postponed. We should not be blinded by any false theories, but should hasten to get ready to meet the Saviour at His coming. The time is right at hand. Everything shows it. T.

THERE is much being said about the rush of business, and that we are to have a period of prosperity and good times. But what is the foundation for such statements? There are strikes and rumors of strikes in Chicago; there are strikes and rumors of strikes in New York, Mount Vernon, Newark; and so it goes. There is an immense amount of smothered-up discontent in the land, and can there be any settled prosperity while such conditions exist? And let it be ever remembered and told everywhere that we are in the time of the end of this world's history, and there will be no more settled good times for this world till the coming of the Son of man in the clouds of heaven. At that time all who have learned from Him how to do the right will enter upon an eternity of prosperity and good times. But all who are not prepared will be drowned in the most intensely remorsed despair. All who are deceived into looking to this world for good times will be awfully disappointed; for we are at the time of the end, and the most fearful experiences that the world has ever known are just before us. These days that are now allotted to us should be spent in earnest, careful preparation for the great events that are right upon us. This preparation should consist of the deepest and fullest repentance and consecration on our own part, and then in earnestly carrying to every one in the world the message that Jesus is about to come in power and great glory to destroy all sin, with every unrepentant sinner.

GUILFORD, Connecticut, a town of 6,000 inhabitants, having more money in its treasury than was necessary for its municipal expenses, has decided by vote to collect no taxes during the coming year. The town officials are receiving many letters from professors of political economy, asking how it is done. The secret, peculiar, but enviable condition is in the fact that Guilford is a prohibition town, and that what officers the town has see to it that the liquor law is enforced. For five years the tax rate has been only one cent on a thousand dollars, and the police force consists of a few special constables. Thus is shown the folly of the idea that in order for a town to pay its bills, it must share in the profits of the liquor business by demanding from the liquor dealers a portion of their illegitimate gains.

THE forces of the South African republics are showing much activity in the immediate vicinity of the British armies, both in the Orange Free State and in Natal. The loss of thousands of draught animals and cavalry horses has seriously impeded the progress of the English. The necessity for winter clothing also serves to keep back the British advance. Engagements of minor importance are continually taking place wherever the opposing forces come in touch with each other. The enforced idleness of the British is acting as a tonic to the Boers, and many of the Free State burghers are rejoining the Transvaalers, some voluntarily, and some through fear of violence at the hands of their countrymen.

THERE is a strong hint of the fact that war is still on in the Philippines in the urgent requests of Generals Young and Bell for more troops to enable them to hold the territory to which they have been assigned in those islands. The Filipinos have broken up their commands into small parties, which are terrorizing the peaceful natives, and occasionally attacking the towns garrisoned by the Americans. A town within four miles of Manila was the scene of one of these attacks a few days ago. The rainy season is about beginning, in which very little campaigning is possible for the American troops, and what is attempted will be accompanied by the most discouraging hardships.

THE circulation statement of the Treasury Department for the year ended April 1, 1900, shows more money per capita in the United States than for any previous year. The total amount of money in the United States during the year past was $2,021,274,506, or $26.12 for each individual. But the fact that the greater portion of this is in the hands of the few very wealthy men, trusts, and syndicates, who are heaping up their treasure at the expense of the masses and doubling their facilities for doing it, takes away any feeling of gladness which the statement might otherwise bring to the common people.

THE Senate has passed the Puerto Rico Tariff Bill. In the language of Senator Bacon, this is "the first law passed by this republic declaring that the people for whom Congress has legislated are not citizens of the United States." From the ungranted but earnest petitions of the Puerto Ricans for free trade with the United States, it is certainly evident that they are being governed without their consent.

IN a recent lecture in New York City Ira D. Sankey stated that the well-known writer of hymns that have cheered the hearts of so many, Mrs. Fanny Crosby, is now over eighty years old, and is both blind and destitute. She is living in New York, and Mr. Sankey proposed that half of the proceeds of his lecture be given to her.

SINCE January 1 the American army in the Philippines has lost 19 officers and 229 men, killed and wounded. During the same time the Filipinos have lost 2,879 killed, wounded, and captured, besides 3,051 small arms and 165 pieces of artillery. This report does not include deaths from disease in the hospital.

THE continuance of war in South Africa is having a demoralizing effect upon the natives. The Ashanti tribes have armed themselves and are fighting each other. Disturbances of a similar nature are taking place in Swaziland, and among other tribes, while respect for "white man's law" is rapidly waning.

THE great granite dam across the Colorado River near Austin, Texas, broke on April 8, and the rushing water that came down the river valley swept to destruction everything in its path. The exact loss of life is not known, but is placed at nearly 100. The property loss will amount to over $2,000,000.

ANOTHER prehistoric city, covering several hundred acres, has been discovered near an Indian village in the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. The ruins are almost completely covered with earth, but the excavations so far made seem to indicate that the discovery is of considerable archaeological importance.

THE Union Signal reports that the W. C. T. U. Convention recently held in Calcutta, India, was most successful and encouraging. Let the good work of the women in spreading the principles of Gospel temperance continue to spread to the farthest and darkest corners of the whole earth.

ON April 3, General Cronje, the captured Boer commander, left Cape Town in company with 1,000 other Boer prisoners, for the island of St. Helena. The Boers are threatening to send the British prisoners to Koomatipoort, the worst fever town in the Transvaal, as an act of retaliation.

ON the same day that Queen Victoria was being enthusiastically greeted in Dublin, Ireland (April 4), the life of the Prince of Wales was attempted at a railway station in Brussels, by a youth of fifteen years. The shot flew wide of its mark, and the boy was captured.

PORTUGAL'S permission to England to transport men and war supplies through Portuguese territory from Delagoa Bay to the Transvaal is arousing considerable animosity in both France and Russia, and is condemned by the press of both these countries.

SO MANY American soldiers in the Philippines have been rendered insane by the exacting service there, or driven to suicide, that a resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 9, asking that investigations be made in reference thereto.

AT a school-boys' pro-Boer rally held in Philadelphia on April 9, a resolution of sympathy with the Boers was signed by 22,000 boys. This resolution was intrusted to a fourteen-year-old boy, who will undertake to present it in person to President Kruger.

ANOTHER attempt has been made in Congress to reopen the question of governmental support of sectarian schools for the Indians. It was in the form of an amendment to the Indian Appropriation Bill, and was defeated by a vote of 30 to 16.

IT is stated upon good authority that England spends $5,000,000 a year on the game of football, and that she is responsible for 70,000 chests of opium being sent to China from India.

IT is reported, on what seems good authority, that Mrs. George Dewey has left the Catholic Church and re-entered the fold of the Episcopalians.