National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-21
AFTER GATH"
Department Woman On fise Hunt for
Els ScaIp.

a Dcnar.me.t Woman on fise Hunt for
EEEs Scalp.
T. ID, FffCr Of The National Republican,:
Gath" i'll a letter to the Cincinnati Enquirer,
r,nrs lis spleen upon " Department females" in
manner 30 remarkable as TO make one wonder if
he hsS not been most Internationally snubbed by
lIng pretty Department girl. lie strikes out at
4 I,;eTtnent ladies with his experienced pen with
vim worthy far better cause. He makes aSser-
81 gU>Fieht ami left with reckless freedom cal
--argd 10 deceive those who do not happen TO
E u,Y 10 the contrary of what he asserts Gath'Slet
->a7r nothing ifnOtinteresting, and this one isno
exception 10 The rule The only thing it lacks is
eraiityncw almost obsolete i'll newspaper writing,
4Hci truth But, to let him speak for himself, he
The employment of women in the public ser
ri-Cs vas az original mistake. \ man 50 employed
amos. invariably takes care Of several persons,
flhcr his family, or his mother, or his widowed
llrE Women paid by the Government support
only themselves as d rule"
I>hal try very hard to believe that Gath does not
U.lily InSrepresent in making this statement, but
hat he docs grossly misrepresent is just certain
q that he writes Having been in Government
service for five years. know better than Gath pos
SHY can about this particular matter. With quite
az extensive acquaintance among Department
ladies'. nearly all know have 10 support entirely
or partially dependent ones.
In The office with which am at this time con-
necieds find that about half the ladies employed
ac widows and all but one or two with children
10 support. Some of these children are scarcely
moe than infants and others are at the more ex-
DtIsve age when they must be gentcelly clothed,
and educated to be able in few years to take
of themselves, and il is TO be hoped of their
mothers, who are now making every sacrifice for
Them.
OTthOse who are not widows there are ladies
supporting mothers and sisters: Others taking
Of Younger or invalid members of their families;
aucE ;hiGgi OF. who has no one directly dependent
upon her. feels it incumbent upon her TO take
Gaze of pretty much all the poor who happen to
CONE in her way 10 say nothing of acting a self
endowed orphan asylum.
urccalIiIiga rathcrextcnsive acquaintance with
lady clerks in different Offices can scarcely think
uf lAlf dozen who do not support entirely or as
SIS in supporting, dependent members OF their
families Although Gath is bigger man" than l.
] dare put my positive knowledge against his
statement IN this matter, and say farther that even
10 pdilan writer aS he has no right To put forth
d Tact that which is calculated to injure any
CLASSY without knowing whereof he speaks. Here
Wnt'c the fact IS known that large majority of
WoIpH in office have Others than themselves de-
pendent upon their labor, Gath's statement does
bm.litle harm, bat people throughout the country
caact be expected 10 know the true state Of the
cI-, and by lust such wreckless writing as this
WOMEN IN the Departments are grossly injured III
Tie mind uI the public.
Gdh Says IA man employed by Government
almost Invariably takes care OF several person.
TAN evidently does not know OF numerous and
divers young men, bachelors and wid0werS in
lc'eTlm"lt employ who take care of no one bur
dtaScircs: who live well, dress we'll smoke well
ana drink well. Every payday witnesses money
.iacEH hanging around waiting for these men to
oeFald oil. and every payday witnesses many Of
~ csSS SHpplng Gut immediately after being
pan 10 avoid being interviewed by waiting land
!a'l'>. WaS!IcrwOmeH, and tI;ideSmen'S collectors
iGlndlcT> oi this sort the male clerk is undOubt-
eiE more OF an expert than the female, who
&AcllmcS goes out 10 pay an honest debt on pay
Git, e'E never Ia avoid paying one.
4';d woman 10 obtain Government employment
N1hnut sacrificing her virtue. Gath writes that a
-+2A VINO BAD been discharged from office, and
WY Was Ne>lOuS TO be relpp0intCd, said that
S.h'>l without exception from the highest to the
Ieit>i. every person of whom she enIreatcd help,
ta.eF =! covert insinuHtiOns or by bold soliciting,
ufiich consideration OF her virtue Cor his help.
Ciaer women around her told her it was useless
glhCut immense social backing or some powerful
hkna 10 obtain the employment without degrade
will not venture 10 say that this woman had
~ hGd some sad experiences of the nature re-
h5cQ Ia, but by reason of her disappoinunentS
an failures doubt not she exaggerated her trials
NlLl> Soil. As 70 the women VINO told her il was
htlfy impossible to obtain positions without deg
Efaticn II Is not reasonable to suppose that they
sdE L9<s15fe f, e such talk would have produced Il
hrSrIncOrnIuriabie impression as TO how they OBJ
isned ii. Ifthey had tried Propositions and failed
Ae reason for such talk is obvious. In no other way
gilld they get so much sympathy as by claiming
glt they could not get position save by the loss
GlheirYirtue.
DO not know but that one woman's experience
- Tor as much enotherS. l have been in
Wee Tor five years. | was Endorsed at the outset
gt"o Senators and several members from my
Sle. Within the five years have had some IA
aqs 10 ask in the way of change of work, of posi-
uh. leaves &c, so l find a large portion of the
H-4AoeFs who have represented my State within
y years have served me in some matter, always
"Aihgly and heartily, and net one ever asked
sIsaeratlon Of any kind. Gath will probably
-idslhe me the uglicst woman in Office, but he
10 h
~ photograph.
That there have been and still are men in Con-
sHsS mean enough TO make the hardest bargain for
urlT assistance that Il man can make with wo-
LLIi mere Is no reason TO doubt; but that there
iiI,lE sQch, do not believe. ] know many
aaiy cierkS whose experiences reSimilar TO mine
80 uG not Know one whose experiences were sim
az ~ iIluSe OF the lady spoken of IN GathS letter.
me average Congressman is bad enough,
-E3'th kncwS and many Of his sins are duly re-
ItHg''; but even a Congressman has some rights
"ti 1 should be respected, and lie should not be
III 10 "ppear III the eyes OF the country rs worse
hler all the able reasons which Gath gives why
,, 5I.yh should not be permitted in the Depart
~ ne sums up by saying:
ne would bea bold Congressman. Senator, or
Sf ,Itl5T! Whomovedt0 dispense with the femalesin
81 GT Pubic departments. As woman got into the
W1.'Sli OF Eden and has TO be considered in the
SIfangemcntUf mankind ever since. woman once
ever" At "''SiilllS'oii IL 'iie4S io'
IL Is generally conceded thatmarriage, which for
TS lures mas been considered the most approved
fsou o. taking care ofwomen is on the decline.
-e,f &lsu khoWn that as countries grow older the
- .nLi.li'er OF women Is greater than Of men.
80, pain thell, that great mlnnterof the female
.Ti IN lSIll c'i he! er marry, and hosts of them
en- ,I' themselves without money or protectors at
olv e IN life rather, then than close the diff
,1Tn =, avenues 10y which these women
raI,;,.tEclf living it would be more hui
j5 n ma 10 have a few Ganges Rivers
I'm. w. u United States for the reception of sur
5i, teliie infants; or the doctors might 60 some
NJ, ~ ioI Inc cause Ct humanity by preventing
mn -niPHdeEt little things from Initiating their
ty:3 titlaIalory To commencing the struggle for
Ip.ryi nee. Either would be more Iuercifu than TO
f,iiv I'ysG children tenderly, educate them care
en- o Su' When they are overtaken by adversely,
Ie, S1 me means by which they could maintain
Irl,,e ,I Of women like myself in the Depart
Seal yo'ld not possibly make their living by ply
l. sf, GL 50 We do moi feel it incumbent upon us
lher j III, ~ iaIor of stalwart men who could earn
are ~, S"1 IL the field if necessary; but as men
GIely ~ al III 'alilS-thank the LOrd-wc are not
I" nave such an alternative presented 10 US.
JESSIE