The Candy Workers’ Union in Boston was also formed through the Women’s Trade Union League.  The girls had walked all over Boston for two days asking policemen, carmen and anyone else who would listen to them how to form a union.  They had no umbrellas, and their shoes were dripping with the wet.  They were Jewish, Italian and American girls.  As a result of the organization formed they obtained a very material raise in wages, the better allotment of work in the slack season and the taking up of all disputed questions between the manufacturers and the union.

From experience gained during these gigantic industrial wars, the National League has laid down definite conditions under which its locals may cooeperate with unions in time of strike.  These take part only in strikes in which women are involved, and then only after having been formally invited to assist, and on the understanding that two League representatives may attend all executive meetings of the strikers’ union.  It has been found that the lines in which the aid of the Women’s Trade Union League is of most value to any exploited group are these:  (1) organization and direction of public opinion; (2) patrolling the streets; (3) fair play in the courts; (4) help in the raising of funds through unions and allies; (5) where workers are unorganized, help in the formation of trade-union organization.

The League workers thus make it their business to open up channels of publicity, at least giving the papers something to talk about, and reaching with the strikers’ side of the story, churches, clubs, and other associations of well-meaning citizens, who are not at all in touch with organized labor.  Allies, in particular, can do much to preserve traditions of fair play, in regard to the use of the streets for peaceful picketing.  By providing bonds for girls arrested, lawfully or unlawfully, and by attending in person such cases when these come up in court, they are standing for the principles of democracy.

In addition, the local leagues are willing to take charge of the arrangements under which girls are sent to other unions, asking for moral and financial aid.  Men trade unionists long ago discovered how irresistible a pleader the young girl can be, but they are not always equally impressed with the need of safeguarding the girls, often little more than children, chosen for these trying expeditions, and sent off alone, or at best, two together, to distant industrial centers.  The working-girl needs no chaperon, but equally with her wealthier sister, she does require and ought to receive motherly care and oversight.  She is perhaps leaving home for the first time, and there should be someone to see to it that when she arrives in a strange city a comfortable and convenient lodging-place has been found for her.  She should be shown how to conserve her strength in finding her way from one locality to another in following up the evening meetings of unions, and she should have some woman to turn to if she should become sick.  Points, all of these, the busy secretaries of central labor bodies may very easily overlook, accustomed as they are to deal with mature men, in the habit of traveling about the country, who may surely be left to take care of themselves.