Julia Salter Earle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Julia Salter Earle
Julia Salter Earle, ca. 1927
Born	September 20, 1878 St. John's, Newfoundland
Died	May 10, 1945
Occupation	Labour leader, engrossing clerk
Organization	Ladies Branch of the Newfoundland Industrial Workers Association
Known for	Social activism
Spouse(s)	Arthur Edward Earle
Parent(s)	Elizabeth Brown Chancey and William Thomas Hall Salter

Julia Salter Earle (1878-1945) was an important leader for workers' rights and a social activist. She lived in St. John's, the capital city of what was then called the Dominion of Newfoundland. She was one of the first women to try and get elected to a political job in Newfoundland.

Julia Salter Earle: A Champion for Workers

Her Early Life and Work

Julia Salter was born on September 20, 1878. She was born in St. John's, Newfoundland. She was the twelfth child in her family. Julia went to Methodist College in St. John's. In 1903, she married Arthur Edward Earle. He was a jeweler in St. John's. They had six children together.

Julia Salter Earle had a paid job as an "engrossing clerk." This meant she wrote out every law passed by the Newfoundland Legislative Assembly. She wrote them in a special script. This job helped her learn a lot about the laws in Newfoundland. This knowledge helped her when she worked with unions and in politics. People often asked her for help with legal problems or difficult situations.

Fighting for Workers' Rights

Julia Salter Earle was very active in her community. She fought for workers' rights. She also worked to help people who were poor or unemployed.

In August 1918, a group called the Ladies Branch of the Newfoundland Industrial Workers Association was formed. Julia Salter Earle became its President. This union helped women who worked in factories. These women made clothes, ropes, and shoes. They wanted better working conditions and fairer pay. These issues had often been ignored in Newfoundland.

Salter Earle met with factory owners and managers. She worked to solve problems on the factory floor. She also helped employees who had been unfairly fired. She wrote letters to newspapers. In these letters, she shared her worries about low wages. She also spoke out against the use of child labour in factories.

Julia Salter Earle also spoke to the government for people who had no jobs. On April 21, 1921, she led a march of unemployed workers. She marched with Edward J. Whitty. He was a leader of the Newfoundland Industrial Workers Association (NIWA). They marched through downtown St. John's to the House of Assembly. This is where the government met. They gave the government a petition. It asked for help for the unemployed.

They held a second march on May 13, 1921. This march challenged the government's promises of help. Salter Earle argued that the government's efforts were not enough. She said they did not truly help the unemployed women and men.

Running for Office

In 1925, Julia Salter Earle ran for a council seat. This was in the St. John's municipal election. A "municipal election" is when people vote for local government leaders. This was the first election where women in Newfoundland could run for office. She was one of three women who tried to win a seat. The others were May Kennedy and Fannie Knowling McNeil.

Julia Salter Earle's campaign slogan was, "Vote for Julia, She Won't Fool Ya." She lost the election by only eleven votes. In the early 1940s, she ran again but did not win a seat.

Even though she didn't win in formal politics, Julia Salter Earle kept helping people. She often gave food from her own table to hungry people who came to her door. She also helped others through the Women’s Association of Cochrane Street Methodist Church. She was also part of the Old Colony Club. This group was once called the Ladies Reading Room and Current Events Club. It was a group of important women. They focused on helping children and getting women the right to vote.

Julia Salter Earle passed away on May 10, 1945. She was 67 years old.