Florence Kelley and the Illinois Sweatshop Law: Document 3

PROTEST OF LABOR
Mass Meeting Held to Denounce the SweatShops.
BOYCOTTS AS A WEAPON.
Manufacturers Called Upon to Abandon the System.
VICTIMS URGED TO ORGANIZE
Committee Named to Aid Legislative Investigation.
FOR AN OPEN FAIR ON SUNDAY.

      Central Music Hall was packed with representatives of united labor in Chicago yesterday afternoon.В  They came from all labor organizations of whatsoever kind to protest against the sweating system which a legislative committee is now investigating.В  The people were there to listen to expert testimony against the "sweat shops," by those having a practical knowledge of the evil, able to describe its deplorable features, and at least more competent than is the average citizen to say what is practical in the way of reform . . . .

      Next came the reading of the resolutions.В  They were offered by Henry D. Lloyd, and were unanimously adopted.В  Mr. Lloyd was frequently interrupted by cheers while reading the document.В  The resolutions call the system of "sweat shops" a covenant with death, denounce the employers for allowing their work to be done in such shops as at present, declare the people have the right to call them to account, name some of the principal offenders, call on them to abolish the system, ask the Legislature to abolish tenement house shops, limit the number of working hours a day to eight, ask that all work-rooms be placed under the manufacturing laws, ask the people to form consumers' leagues, and if other plans fail, to make the manufacture of clothing a public enterprise.