The Sex Question

Lizzie M. Holmes, “Women Workers of Chicago” (1905)

Women Workers Of Chicago. HOW THE PIONEER WORK WAS DONE BY A BAND OF SELF-SACRIFICING WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR THE POWERFUL UNIONS OF THE PRESENT DAY. By Lizzie M. Swank Holmes. CHICAGO has been called the best organized city, especially in regard to women workers, in the United States, and the demonstration on last Labor Day was sufficiently important to give spectators a fair idea of the immense strength of union labor in the city. The history of the economic movement among women wage workers of that city is typical of that in all other large industrial centers, […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “The Tyranny of Strikers” (1902)

The Tyranny of Strikers. Two ladies sat earnestly conversing in the little parlor belonging to one of them, in a city of the eastern middle states. “But I am so sorry for the strikers’ poor families,” said the visitor, a Mrs. Helen Hazard, who was said to be fairly well off, eccentric and somewhat imbued with some “strange socialistic notions.” “They are not to blame for their suffering and they are starving and are half clothed and sheltered. And they will soon be driven from their miserable houses by the mine owners because they cannot pay rent or keep up […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “The Problem of the Enormously Wealthy” (1905)

The Problem of the Enormously Wealthy I had just finished reading one of the new and popular novels, entitled “The Undercurrent,” by Robert Grant, and had found it a very interesting and well-written book. I noticed that the author raised a number of vital and important sociologic and economic questions which intensely concern the people of this early twentieth century; but he seemed to have raised them merely for the sake of raising them, as he made no attempt at answering them. His characters suavely put aside every remedy that has ever been proposed, and the author suggests nothing but […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “The Worst of Crimes” (1906)

The Worst of Crimes. There are crimes for which we imprison and hang, and consider our duty well done. We brand men as felons for stealing a few dollars or injuring a fellow being, perhaps in a fit of anger, and set them aside, a class by themselves too low for human kindness. But there are acts committed by good men which we do not punish by law that work more evil in the world than any petty thief or common murderer could bring about. And men who grow rich by these acts are honored and respected and pointed at […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “The True Teachings” (1906)

The True Teachings. Once upon a time there was a good and wise being who was the chief of all the people in the land, and greatly beloved and honored by them. He left them to the care of several of his favorite sons, who at different times came and dwelt among them and taught them how to live, so as to attain -the greatest happiness. One especially, whom all the people who knew him loved dearly, came and lived a simple, truthful life, and taught the people that they were all brothers and the children of one father. He […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “A Story of a Far Away Land” (1905)

A Story of a Far Away Land. Once upon a time, a long way off, there was a rich and beautiful island in the midst of a warm sea. The island was quite populous, but everything grew or could be found, either in the sky, or the waters, or the depths of the ground—all that the people could need; precious metals and stones were found deep in the earth, fine forests clothed the hillsides, and bountiful harvests were reaped from cultivated soil. The climate was glorious, and the breezes were fresh and pure and full of life-giving elements. Nothing seemed […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “A Story of a Far Away Land” (1905)

A Story of a Far Away Land. Once upon a time, a long way off, there was a rich and beautiful island in the midst of a warm sea. The island was quite populous, but everything grew or could be found, either in the sky, or the waters, or the depths of the ground—all that the people could need; precious metals and stones were found deep in the earth, fine forests clothed the hillsides, and bountiful harvests were reaped from cultivated soil. The climate was glorious, and the breezes were fresh and pure and full of life-giving elements. Nothing seemed […]
fiction

Lizzie M. Holmes, “A Woman’s Club” (1905)

A Woman’s Club A group of women who live in a western city, possessing abundant leisure, yet not belonging to the upper four hundred, and not by any means drudges in the lower ten thousand, conceived the idea of forming a club of their own. It should be their very own—it should not be patronized by any of the women of the big “women’s club” nor corrupted by the membership of the common herd. They were sufficiently intellectual and aspiring to carry on a literary and social club which should vie with Capitol Hill organizations in point of interest and […]
The Sex Question

Lizzie M. Swank, “An Open Letter to the Moral Education Society,” (1884)

CORRESPONDENCE. AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MORAL EDUCATION SOCIETY. To the Editors of The Radical Review: I was among the number who listened to the able lecture of Dr. Thomas, on the evening of May 20, in the audience room of the M. E. Church. Will they grant me the privilege of asking a few questions on the subject? I believe the aims of this society are high and pure, and will result in great good to the human race; but they must be mingled with other reform principles, or no permanent change can come. Allow me to ask the […]
The Sex Question

Lizzie M. Holmes, “Trade Unionism the Only Hope” (1906)

Trade Unionism The Only Hope. IT SHOULD be self-evident that in trade unionism the toiler finds his only hope and security while we live under the commercial system which reigns today. Sugar coat it as we may, labor is today a commodity, and the capitalist goes into the market and buys it as cheaply as it can be purchased. So there seems to be no limit to the lowering of wages were there no preventing forces. Men’s very necessities compel them to compete with one another until the very lowest possible living price is reached. The fact that a man […]