Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1893-01-21
QUESTION OF LADY CLERKS.
A Woman Who Earns Her Living
and Cares for Her Child.

DEAR SIR: / wish to say that the
"Applicant for a Clerkship"has told
us some plain facts, and 1 agree
with her that the JOURNAL editorial
on Lady Clerks of the 18th inst.
was correct version of the state
of contention at the state
house, and L think that honest
brother Upton is speaking from his
standpoint, and though he wishes to
do all ladies justice, and 1 thank
him, his fault lies in not knowing
wheoeof the JOURNAL speaks.
The JOURNAL looks at all appli-
cants, weighs them In the balance,
and inds some, wanting.
\The "Applicant for a Clerkship''
is evidently not a mother, and l
would like to tell her that 1 know
the mother who goes forth as a
bread winner cannot look after
home and children as a mother
who is always at home, yet | wish
to inform her that / know a mother
who goes forth to her daily labor
and looks after the child's associates
more than any mothers who are
home day in and day out. My
friend goes from her home between
8 aud 8 a. m., returning at and 5
y. m. Her child is cared for by its
mother, morning, noon and night,
and the little girl never thinks of
being away when "Mamma' does
not take her. Yet she is happy
child. Do you ask, "why"? Be-
cause this busy mother keeps her
child busy, aud the busy hands
find no mischief. I wish to say
that the home, where the mother is
the maintainer need not necessarily
be an ill-conditioned home, and my
friends home is happier than the
average home where father is main
tainer.
Home Is the fountain of society, but
in looking for society, for friend, or
for home, look for the mother, and
whether she be a business woman,
or one wholly domesticated, let us
seek refinement, when that is found,
we have the pearl-the treasure.
If the legislature would stipulate
that all who seek clerical employ
ment must have qualification, and
have committee ofjust men to
Judge of each ones capabilities, then
all these arguments need not be
raised.
If Senator Willis had his bill in
effect, and not have woman en-
ployed. then note the procession of
effeminate good-for-nothing men on
the staff for committee work.
The good men clerks need not
seek after the clerkship; the good
women clerks, from necessity now
humiliate themselves to take the
and senator's time
to ask for work, when she feels it
solemn obligation to first apologize
for living, and then says eff you
have employment, 1 hope you will
not forget me-"
| earnestly hope the day is not far
distant when Oregon will follow her
sister state, Washington, and give
chief clerks. and all minor clerks
chairs to women.
Women do better work, in many
instances than men.
They are more conscientious than
men, they never go ION a spree" al
ways at their post of duty;if you
don't believe this, employ a good
business woman and you will find
that, like the honest man, she can
stand any amount of watching; the
dishonest people cannot stand the
test of being watched.
"But what manner of man am
I?u | am one of those who, when
in error love to be refuled, and who
have equal delight iu refuting the
errors of 9th ers; nor Is 1t more pleas
ant To me to refute than to be re
futed. / account il a greater salts
faction, as the advantage is more u
be delivered from errors way, than
to deliver Others, and truly ] con-
slider no incident so grievous ms u
entertain false opinions concerning
the subject we have under discus-
sion.
A CONSTANT READER.