The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-03-27

were or ever could be. The strong arm
is potent only as far as lie sword can
reach; the controller of opportunity
cables his will around the world and
grapples his dependent by the throat
even at the antipodes. Feudal strife
reduced the number of lords, but rarely
increased the privileges of the feuda-
tories. In like manner competition be-
tween the great lords of production, of
trade and transportation lessons the
number of controllers Of opportunity, but
increases the power of the remainder.
The man who labors for him
self is master; he who is dependent for
opportunity upon another's will is half
slave"
Among the important and serious
problems which confront the promoters
of labor's interests is that which deals
with women's work. So great has been
the extension of "woman's sphere" in
recent years that it is now impossible to
consider any labor question without TAX
ing her into account. 1t is true she does
not compete directly with man in many
of the heavier industries where special
physical strength is necessary; but by
cutting into the lighter employments
she displaces him, and he in turn be-
comes a competitor with his fellows who
occupy these special fields. Working
men cannot quarrel with the women for
this; they must live, and as a rule the
women wage workers are the daughters,
sisters and wives of the very men they
displace.
It is to the credit of organized work
ingmen, especially in this country, that
they see the situation in a proper light.
Instead of attempting to fight the women
workers, most of the unions recognize
their right to work where they can, and
endeavor to help them, at the same time
protecting their own interests by de-
manding equal pay for equal work with
out regard to sex. That way lies the
only solution of the question. Public
sentiment must be brought to bear to
that effect, and the women themselves
must be educated up to point of appre-
ciating their labor and of uniting with
their brothers in the demand. Much is
being done in this direction bysuch cour-
ageous women as Ida Van Etten, of New
York, but much remains to be done.
In this respect we seem to be in adj
vance of England. There the unions
generally have not taken the broader
ground, and women workers are not in
frequently called 'sblacklegs" by the
men into whose callings they have en-
tered. The introduction of women into
the London postofice during the strike
of some months ago has caused consider
able excitement and not little bitter
feeling in labor circles on the other side
of the Atlantic. In England, as in this
country, the improvement in machinery
has been the chief factor in driving
women into the army of wage earners.
The era of machinery is the era of the
woman worker. 1t is also the era of re-
duced wages.
Recently Miss Van Etten had this to
say on the subject:
Some years ago statesmen, bookkeepers,c clerks
stenographers, typewriters, etc, had salaries
sufficient to support them. Now they have not.
Women came into these occupations, took any
compensation that was offered them, and the
employers, you may he sure, fixed wages at the
lowest possible point. Then mems wages were
reduced. No employer will give msre to aman
than to a woman if he can get the latter to do
the same work satisfactorily. Tho result has
been that the wages in many occupations have
been brought down below what was considered
the living point for men formerly. Women
generally can afford to take wages which would
not support a single man, let alone a man with
a family, for they have homes, and their little
earnings simply become a part of the family
earnings.
1t is hard to get working women to realize
that they committing almost a crime in
driving their natural protectors and providers
out of their occupations by accepting wages on
which man cannot live. They only think of
the few dollars to be drawn at the end or the
week, and do not consider that the injury will
react upon themselves eventually. haveseen
a great deal of the condition of working women
in all branches of trade in this city, and nm
compelled to say that, since their sphere has
extended, they are worse Off even than the
working women in London, about whom so
much has been written. And the worst of it is
they have dragged men down with them to
starvation wages. Unconsciously they have
combined with the manufacturers, storekeep-
ers and others employers to make life harder
for the workers of both sexes.
Miss Van Etten has made close enough
study of this subject to qualify her to
speak with intelligence upon it, and to
earn a serious consideration for her
words. She says: Organization is the
one remedy. Women must recognize
the dignity of labor and must go at
it as a life affair. They should or
ganize as extensively and as COM
pactly as men do. 1t is hard to con-
vince them of this, however. There are
few working women's societies in exist
ence at present. Those organizedin the
last year or two have already accom-
plished much good. Their example will,
| hope, promote the organization of
others. The condition of the women
eloakmakers has been greatly improved
since Iorganized them. / have received
in the last few days many requests for
information as to the methods of organi-
cation from women in Pittsburg, Cleve-
land and other western cities"
Every labor organization should aid |
in the good work this brave woman has
inaugurated. Their own interests de-
mand that they should help to educate
the women in the principles of unionism
There are cases on record of factory girls
unions which were as well conducted |
and as firm in demanding their rights as
the best of the mems unions. Men and
women must suffer while thelatter learn;