The Washington critic., 1890-02-06
THE CRITICS" HEAD is OFF.

Editor CritiG THE Critic has been
making gallant fight to secure the aboli
tion of certain evils in the mailbag repair
shop. The motive of its efforts is unques-
tionably good, but wish to ask, in all seri-
business, whether, If II secures the fullest
consummation of the reform It is fighting
for, it VIII not injure more than it will ben
eft those it seeks to aid? These poor
women work there because they need the
wages The effect, then, of the mistreat-
ment and hardships they endure is to
drive out those who least need the wages,
making room for those who most need the
wages. As a consequence the places are
now, filed by women, to whom the wages
are veritable God-send, and who are will
ing TO endure the mistreatment for the
sake Of the chance afforded TO earn wages
no chance to earn equally good wages
being open to them, OF they would take it,
NOW let us suppose that they were under
the control of kind and considerate Off
GERS and received only the best of treat
mept; that their tasks were reduced IN
quantity, and the performance of the tasks
waived whenever their accomplishment
WAS not possible, and the scale OF wages
increased--say double. This describes a
measure OF reform as large, probably, as
THE Critic would ask. But what would
be the resultg Would the poor women
who are now employed there be the bene-
ficiaries? Would not the fact that good
wages could be earned under pleasant con-
ditions attract class Of people whose need
for the wages is not near go great as is the
need of those who now work there, and as
result would there not be intense com
petition for the places, ending In the pres
ent needy employees being forced out, to
have their places filled by those who can
command 'fuence?"
THE CRTTIo's heart is right but its head
is a little of. That is nothing uncommon,
however. 1t is quite the thing for tender
hearted people to become indignant at the
wrongs OF the oppressed, but few of those
same pc ople care to study the situation so
thoroughly as to make themselves com
petent to propose real remedy. And
many of them, when they happen to learn
| the remedy, have not the courage TO adyo-
cate it. Notwithstanding THE CRITIo's
professions honestly made no doubt) that
II proposes to be the peoples paper, and
fight for the rectihcation Of any wrongs
that exist, is 1t sure that 1t will do itg do
not doubt it's present sincerity, but ques-
tion. its ability to comprehensively grasp
the situation, because editors never have
time to learn anything nor to think deeply
on any question, and, although they are in
the habit Of expressing secondhand opin-
ions, they are chary of adopting the views
of those specialists who do go TO the bottom
OF questions and whose remedies are neces
sarily radical. And If itshould happen tc
learn what must be done, has It the courag,
to advocate itY Very few papers have.
While the situation of those women i'
bad enough there are In this city thousand;
who are worse OF, and who would be glad
to earn the wages there paid. know al
old man with a sick wife aud a little child
Their total income is less than 500 year
They are doomed to death by starvation
and lack Of medical attention, and for The
lutle girl probably worse fate, aud there
10 no adequate help for them Ignorance
on their own part, cupidity on the part ol
others and red tape on the part Of the an
ihenties all tend to cut them of from nell
by,tiose TO whom the care Of such eases ha,
been relegated. And this is only one cas-,
Of many. suppose charity does reach then