The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-06-27
WOMEN WHO WORK FOR wAcEs.
Why Men Are Paid Larger Salaries Than
Their Sisters Receive.

If women could be induced to come
out like little men and say what they
would like to do for II living there
would be some probability of accom-
modating them, but as long as they
! SIT in the corner and complain it will
be impossible to help them.
They protest that if They only had a
fair chance they would be able to
compete with men in supporting them
! selves.
: What better chances do they wantP
! The trades are all open and so are the
professions. What more can men do
( Than say to them to come into compe-
/ tition " it'll them?
You don't pay us as much for work
! as you pay men?
Skilled labor is worth just as much.
! and if you acquire the skill and can
turn out as much work as a man you
! will get just as much for it.
The reason that men are paid larger
salaries for selling dry goods is because
every store must keep a few men, and
these aill not work i'll store for less
than they can make in shop.
1t is the fault of women that men
are kept in stores. You know that
you prefer to be waited on by a gen.
tleman when you go to buy dress
pattern or a pair of shoes. There are
plenty of good and true women who
will not allow shop girls to wait or
them. Here is just the reason thai
men have to be keptin stores, and they
must be paid according to what theil
time is worth.
Another reason is that girls do mo-
: take the interest in business that mer
do Nine ont of ten salesladys are sucf
because they have to earn their livings
and they are sore about it. If the,
: We're not compelled to do it they
= wouldn't think of engaging in sucl
, menal employment.
1ou can not expect any one, man o.
: woman, to become proficient in bust
5 ness for which they have no liking.
, Whenever women make their tim
more valuable than it is now they will
t get better salaries. As it is there ar
1 Il dozen applicants for every vacanc
l occurring in store or school, which ha
: a tendency to lower salaries. This j
t one of the laws of domestic economy
A and it can never be repealed. Scarcit
y of a product or of IL class of labo
t raises the price, whilea surplus reduce
t it. When bananas are plenty you ca
s buy them for 10 cents IL dozen; whe
s scarce they cost a quarter. -
II The trouble with women seems to b
!, that they cannot realize that the law
L of trade or of domestic or politicf
economy apply to them as they do
men. In the business world Il wOma
e is a machine just the Same as a mar
i and she will be paid according to whs
a her time is worth to her.
Il If women want to enter the busine:
C world they must take an interest
" business, study business methods, an
g observe the laws governing busines
II These laws are as inexorable as IL
; laws of nature, and will not change
n suit the comfort or convenience
II either woman OF man.
l. Why don't women monopolizo Il
d millinery and dry goods business of ii
d cOuntrvP
There is no State or National la
wnich prevents them from so doin;
They can build or rent storerooms ar
!. manufacturers will not hesitate to sc
al them all the goods they want provi
at ing they are reasonably certain til
ID they will get paid for them. There Il
IS women with wealth enough to start
V. business with as fair prospects of su
Or cess us the average man.
ly Why don't they do it?
Simply because they prefer living
.h the income from their money rath
than doing business.
il There is the secret of the who
Ill truth. Those who are working
H. wages wouldn't do SO if they were n
e. compelled To do it. and what wo
II, they do is done under protest. Su
,t- work is rarely well done.-Pittsbss
Commercials Gugctte.