The morning call., 1893-07-09
WOMEN AT WORK.
A Speech on Their Rights
by Mrs. Foltz.
ALL CANNOT FIND HOMES.
A Criticism of Father Montgomer US
Recent Discourse Before the
Young Ladies' Institute.

"Rev. Father Montgomery's labors in
reform in San Francisco have indicated
broad mind and liberal spirit. 1t was
therefore with much surprise that l read
his recent utterances ON 'WOman's Rights
and WOman's Sphere in Life"
1t was Mrs. Clara S. FoltZ, addressing the
San Francisco Council OF Women yester-
day afternoon, who made the above re-
marks in the course of an able review of
Father Montgomery's speech. recently de-
livered befors the Young Ladies' Insti-
tute
1.-THE central idea of his address," con-
ttinued Mrs. Foltz. lis that woman's place
is at home and work is not her portion;
that mea should be compelled o support
her, and therefore there is no occasion for
opening to her the avenues of labor.
This statement OF his position is sur
prise to myself. Father Montgomery has
but recently aided in closing the dives in
this city. To influence nun icipal legisla-
ton he commended. and to that end joined
hand in hand with. the Women's Christian
Temperance Union, the largest ana best
organized body of public workers in the
world. Fresh from his and their triumph
in civil matter. he spoke before the
Young Ladies' Institute. and there de-
clared that il was his tenet, and by infer
ence that of his church. that women
should take no. part ia civil affairs. The
reverend fathers deeds are better than his
words.
Father Montgomery assumes that home
life is posi- bic and proper for all. His
theory is wrong. Numerically there are
many more women than men. In some
localities they outnumber the men two to
one. and Of the men large number, such
as soldiers, sailors. tramps and cranks.
will not marry. For every woman to have
a home is therefore impossible. Thou
sands of fatherless young women and
widows without means, willing enough to
marry. but lacking opportunity, are to be
found in every State. Shall they starve or
feed on the crust of charity whea they are
willing and able to earn a living? They
must live. VIII you open the doors of
labor or will you drive them to suicide or
shame?
Father Montgomery condemns the wOrk
of woman outside of home, for he says
home is her place; that she should not
leave her home to work; refuses to favor
opening larger fields Of employment to her.
and approves the denial to her of the right
to participate in civil affairs, which he ad-
mits she possesses. Is only homework
honorable. as is implied? Does Father
Montgomery reaiZs what the world would
lose by deprlving 1t OF wOman's work out
side of the home? Shall women go home
and refuse their aid to the but Hiding or sup
port of churches? Shall the Sweet-faced
sisters Of charity leave their divine work,
cease comforting the sorrowful, close the
doors of the sheltering arms and Magda-
lene Asylum; let the grass grow In their
pathways and seek husbands for the sake
OF homes? Shall the Kings Daughters,
the Daughter Of the Good Shepherd, and
h ahy ~. al
their home doors, sit Idly within and cease
their great work for suffering mankind.
''Shall the hospital nurses be invited t.
leave their posts If duty and the sick and
dying be deprived of the gentle minislra-
tons. and shall we blot out and history
Nightingale and Clara Barton? Shall the
women teachers Of public and private
schools be asked to resign, and the tender
children they have loved and guarded be
turned into the public streets? Should
Mrs. Potter Palmer and her cabinet OF
able assistants have been RELOCATED to the
kitchen or the pariOr and the greatest
work and wonder of the Colum bian Ex-
position have been left undone? Ii Father
Montgomery position be true, and If
women should lead only idle lives. then
we should take down the old Bible and
expunge from its pages the sweet story of
Ruth, who CLEANED in the fields of BoaZ,
Israel according to her laws.
Father Montgomery remedy for the So
called evil that cnmpels women TO work is
not new. He proposes to fix all the wages
# the men so that they will be able to
support all the women. The plan is gen.
erous, but how i'm ossible it is to adapt
such scheme to 100000 of American
people must be seen at a glance. 1t is cut
OF joint with the Independent spirit of the
age. Besides, TO make it effective the price
Of commodities would also have to be fixed.
for the ability TO support a FAM y depends
not on wages alone. but ON the cost of
what is consumed. The task would be an
inn os>ible one.
Father MontgOmery's position on
woman taking part in civil affairs is anom-
alous. He alleges that she has an equal
right with mau to do so. and in the same
breath favors denying her the exercise of
1t. Ii. as he admits, il Is her right does ne
not see that to rob her Of it is a wrong and
that every advocate Of the wrong is party
to the robbery?
HE has read history to little purpo Q
who does not know that the ruling
class can never be trusted to do JUS
lice to the ruled. Think Of the law
that enab ed a male Guardian to con-
fi>cate his wards property for her
refusal to marry tho man he chose for her;
the law that gave the husband an absolute
right to the children upon separation
caused by his own fault. and permitted
him to appoint by will guardian with a
right to the custody of the children supe-
ror to that Of their mother; the law that
permitted him to seize and convert to
his own use. and against her will. every
dollar of his wife's personal property. even
10 her clothing; the law THAT permitted
him to bat his wife il the cudgel used was
no Larger than his thumb.
Think Of the multitude of laws that
have LAID in cold obstruction across the
devious pathway of her progress since the
race was young; think of these laws. aud
then repeat. il you can. that men will not
legislate against their own flesh and
blood.
1--WE do not take issue with Father
Montgomery in his POSITION" concluded
the speaker: I'VE merely want to uproot
what we consider to be an error"
A good deal of warm applause greeted
Mrs. FoltZ at many points IN her sleech.
Upon its conclusion Mrs. Gregory arose,
"A iota 10