Triangle, The Fire That Changed America written by David Von Drehle. Drehle an author and journalist, born in Denver, Colorado on February 6, 1961. He received his bachelors from the University of Denver, later pursuing and graduating from Oxford University with a masters in literature. Triangle, which was published in 2004, described the events that occurred March 26, 1911. On this day the workers of the Triangle shirtwaist factory faced tragedy and torment like no other. Drehle describes the poor working conditions the women faced, but also the horrible pay wages they received. Drehle’s reasoning for writing Triangle is to inform the readers and educate them of the hardships that the workers faced during this time period. Also to shed light on the economic and political status of the nation during this time period.
The beginning of the book starts with the introduction of a few of the workers and immigrants working at the shirtwaist factory. This includes the introduction of Clara Lemlich, an immigrant who worked in the factory and played a key role in the workers strikes and unions. We were also introduced Max Blanck and Isaac Harris, whom were immigrants themselves but soon rose from poverty to wealth. Blanck and Harris both owned the factory and few others as well. Drehle, early on, speaks of the coincidental fires that seemed to occur during parts of year at some of Blanck and Harris’ factories, implying that they are purposely setting them maybe to get rid of excess materials. It isn’t until about half way through the book that Drehle speaks of the events of the fire. He writes accounts from the workers, and managers of the factory that lived and died during the fire, including the ones who risked their lives for others. One of the most interesting chapters, in my opinion, would be chapter 6 “Three minutes”. Drehle implies that with just an extra three minutes of warning could have saved countless more lives. Allowing those trapped more time to overcome the Greene Street door, and make it to the roof.
During this time period, the 1900’s, females roles were beginning to change in society. More and more women were attending colleges, and began to be politically involved. Though many great things were starting to happen for women there were still plenty bad. Women had begun to fight for fair wages and working condition. They felt that they were not given any respect solely based on their gender. A few women that no longer wanted this mistreatment were, Clara Lemlich and Anne Morgan who helped orchestrate strikes against the factories. These strikes were no easy thing to do, nor were they the safest. Clara Lemlich learned that shortly after. Clara’s boss hired to have her beaten, in an attempt to stop here from leading these movements, this however backfired. She would still go to the mass strikes and even joined a women’s organization called International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union.
A constant reminder through the book is the neglect of laborer’s safety and their awful living conditions in tenement housing. During this time period a huge wave of job competition came about because of the mass immigration causing the wages to drop. As the pay began to drop, the worker’s patients did as well, giving birth to many strikes. The local 25 and Women’s trade Union Labor helped gather workers to strike against unfair wages. Another key point of the strike was addressing the long day work shifts as well as the long work week. They promised to keep the strike going until their demands were met. Overcrowding in the tenement houses also became an issue. The tenement houses in which laborers, mostly immigrants, lived in were very unsafe and very uncrowded.
In Drehle’s view, the Triangle fire sparked a boost to the progressives during the early twentieth century. His perspective of the outcome of the Triangle fire disaster is a positive one since the fire caused reforms for the good of laborers. The price that those 146 workers paid did not go in vein. Progressives saw the fire as an opportunity to strike against the unfair practices of industries. For the first time progressive men and women were able to witness first-hand the brutalities of factory labor. Tammany Hall would see an unbelievable new progressive platform, and would soon act on it. Tammy Hall relied on old immigrant’s votes for political power. Now in the era of change, Tammy Hall boss Charles F. Murphy began to embrace reforms shortly after the Triangle disaster to win over the New immigrant’s votes. The New York State Legislature soon after created the Factory Investigating Commission, which would investigate and report of factories hazardous or dangerous working conditions. Also adding and regulating business buildings insuring they met certain criteria pertaining to safety, such as fireproofing and also the amount of hours’ a laborer works a day.
In Conclusion, I do believe that the author did a publish a well-organized book. Drehle sehd light and explained not only the possible cause of the fire but those all involved as well. This unfortunate event took the life of 146 workers, 123 of the being women. The silver-lining of is workplace is a better and safer place from learning from this fire. Many of the things we take for granted in the business buildings we enter today we take for granted. Such as it being mandatory for doors of business’ to open outward, which helps protect against being locked in, or requiring sprinkler systems in the celling. Also one major ending of this is the use of fire escapes, and the requirement of them to be unlocked at all times. Many of the workplace safety that we take for granted in today’s day and age stemmed in some way shape or form from the fire that occurred in the Triangle shirtwaste factory. Drehle described the conditions of the workplace and the hardship that the men and women faced during this time period. It opened doors for progressives. These women who could not take the mistreatment, and awfully low wages deciding to risk everything for fair treatment. Drehle reasoning for writing Triangle is to inform and educate the reader of the hardships that the workers faced during this time period. While also shining light on the political and economic state the nation was in. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the reason for this is it’s an important part of history. We owe a lot of our current safety procedures and precautions to tragic events such as these that March day.
Originally published 15.10.2019