In the early 1900s, people were expected to work up to and sometimes over 24 hours. Men and women had to fight to lower the working day down to ten hours.
While the ten hour laws were put into effect in certain cities, it did not mean that the businesses and factories were willing to abide by those laws.
This fascinating account shows the working hours of the women who labored in the laundries in New York City.
New York’s Murder of the Innocents
New York, Jan. 19. — “The Working Women of New York, against the Laundries of New York, for the Murder of Innocent Babes.”
That is the form of indictment that ought to be issued against the “laundry trust” of New York if the testimony given today before State Labor Commissioner Williams, be true.
In pursuance of his duties, Williams is investigating the conditions in the laundries that caused the present strike of 30,000 women and children.
Williams has summoned witnesses. The first to appear before him was Mrs. Matilda Winn, pale faced, half starved, but a member of the striking union and ready to bear all things for the cause.
“Why,” asked Williams, “did you go on strike, Mrs. Winn?”
A spasm of pain passed over Mrs. Winn’s face, and she sobbed bitterly. Then she raised her head, and in a low voice, answered:
“I went on strike because the laundries killed my poor little baby. Perhaps they’ll kill me, too; for I haven’t much money to live on now. But I won’t go back to work. For, if I help to win this fight, perhaps I shall save some other poor mother’s baby from death, and that will be my reward — even if I starve to death.”
“Tell me about it,” said Commissioner Williams, gently.
Mrs. Winn struggled with sobs for a moment and then went on.
“My husband was out of a job. So I had to go to work in the laundry to help him. We had a little baby, just a few weeks old, and the dearest —
“But I had to go to work and bring in some money, and the laundries were the only places I could get work.
“I arranged with my mother to keep the baby during the day. But at night, when I came home, I nursed it myself. That is what killed my baby.
“On Monday, I worked from noon until 2 o’clock Tuesday morning. Then I would rush home to my baby — and I would be too tired to sleep.
“I had to be at work at 7:30 o’clock Tuesday morning. It meant your pay “docked” the first time you were late — perhaps you were discharged if you were late a second time. And on Tuesday we worked all through one day, and then on into the night until 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
“Wednesday, we usually got off at midnight. Thursday we worked from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday we got away at 7 p.m., and Saturdays we only worked a few hours.
“The first few days of the week just killed us. The doctor told me I’d kill my baby if I kept at it — but I had to earn a living — and the laundries were the only places.
“I used to get home at night so tired, I could barely keep on my feet — and then I would try and nurse my baby. But I had to stay at work — and kill my own child.
“My baby died two months ago.
“I was 18 then. But there are girls as young as 14 working the same hours. The inspectors rarely made arrests.”
Under the laws of New York, women may not work more than ten hours a day.
Williams still is hearing witnesses. And other haggard, half starved women, are corroborating Mrs. Winn.
[Source: (1912, January 19). New York’s Murder of the Innocents. The Day Book, p. 7-8.]
