Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1891-02-27
DEBT OF GRATITUDE.
The General Spinner Memorial Asso-
ciation.


The opportunity for doing so much
good to so large number, rs was done
by General Francis E. Spinner, pre-
sents itself to few, and fewer still know
how to seize and act upon the oppor-
tunity when presented.
General Spinner's early life had
taught him the many hardships that
men have to encounter in their jour-
ney through the world-men, who
have so many avenues through which
they can seek livelihood and reach
success, and his kindness Of heart and
intense love of justice enabled him to
understand how the trials must be
multiplied where women had to be the
breadwinners, with all doors closed
against them except those leading to a
school, a sewing-room or kitchen.
To the writer of this he once said
"My friends used to talk of my peculiar
views, and call me wOman's rights
man, and SO was, and when | was
made United States Treasurer, at the
beginning of The war, and the work of
that Office increased and the men were
needed in the army, | said to myself,
If ever strike successful blow for
woman, now is my time"
The money of the United States was
printed then, as now, in sheets of four
notes each, but there were no machines
for separating the notes. Between
twenty and thirty men were employed
in cutting these notes apart and trim
ming them with large shears. 1t is
generally supposed that women are, or
ought to be, adopts in the handling Of
shears, and on ordinary occasions no
man would think of using them il Il
woman were present to do it for him.
But this was an extraordinary occasion,
for they were receiving twelve hundred
dollars year for their work
General Spinner. with an eye to the
eternal fitness of things, set about try
ing to convince Secretary Chase and
"all Others in authority" that the gov
ernment was putting a premium OF
fifty per cent. on awkwardness. for wo-
men would do the work faster and bet
ter for half the salary paid the men,
and that guns in the hands of the men
would be much more becoming to their
style of beauty than shears. 1t re-
quired great deal of energetic talking
before he was permitted to appoint a
woman to try the work, "just as an ex-
pertinent" How his eyes would
brighten and his face light up when
he told this, as if he were living over
again the triumph of that hour. "Her
first days work settled the matter in
woman's favor. The men left and
the women took their places.
He next convicted the officials, who
were very much like the old woman
who was willing to be convinced, but
would just like to see the one who
could convince her." that the nimble
fingers of women were peculiarly
adapted to the counting OF notes, en-
abling them to do it much more rapid
ly than men and, again, the old argu-
ment was brought up that ait was a
better article and cost only half so
much" Men are just as fond of what
we call good bargain as women are,
so general Spinner was permitted to
appoint seven women as counters of
United States money.
These seven ladies are fully entitled
to the credit that pioneer workers in a
good cause should always receive, and
womankind should regard them with
gratitude, for they did their work so
"Cii anu gave ouCh SdtiSiuCtlOu tildL ~
was not long before Congress was max
ing appropriations for the employment
OF women, not only in the Treasury,
but in all of the Executive Depart
ments.
The half-price argument was used
simply as an opening wedge. for Gen.
eral Spinner did not rest until he had
succeeded in getting salaries increased
and in giving to a woman the same
pay that man received, if she did the
same work. In every possible way he
sought to put the matter in its true
and proper light before those whose
duty it was to understand it. As he
would pass through the rooms, explain
ing the workings of his Office, he would
say, "These ladies handle more money
in day than any bank cashier in the
United States" Those to whom he
was talking usually proved to be Men,
bers of Congress whom he was trying to
convert in anticipation OF the time
when appropriation bills would be in
order, and he hoped, by convincing
them OF the responsibility of the work,
to prevail upon them to do Justice to
the worker.
When he opened the doors of the
Departments of the Government for
the employment of women, other doors
were opened. 1t was soon discovered
that if their services were of use to the
government, they might also be made
available in other offices and business
houses. There was steady advance
ment from that time onward in the
position OF women VINO were forced TO
be self-supporting. All classes were
benefited, for as women who were Ca
pable of filling higher positions gained
access to them, it gave to those not ca
pable OF such promotion, a broader
field within the scope of their ability.
General Spinner realized the import
anoe and the magnitude of the work
he had accomplished for women. and
was accustomed to say that it was the
one act of his life in which he felt
| p,ost priIe few yaors moo