The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-07
Suppose Women We're Allowed to Do
Mems Work?

The strength of the woman's suffrage
movement In Great Britain has had q
noticeable effect upon political newspapers
and public men. They have ceased to
laugh at the demand for equal rights. and.
instead of relying on the obstructive forces
once supposed to be lntrenched In the
legislature. they now appeal to the good
sense Of women and argue the question on
abstract principles. They point out that
political emancipation Is only means to
an end. and that the ultimate aim Is the
admission Of woman to every department
of labor now monopolized by man. Admit
ting such admission to be just, would it not.
they ask. be inexpedient? The London
Spectator. for Its part. contends that the
free competition OF women with men In
every field OF labor would result In cutting
wages down one-half Mr.. WALTER BEsANT.
on the other hand. maintains that things
would never go 30 far. because. long before
that point was reached. there would be @
wholesale emigration OF men from the Brit
ish Islands.
There is some ground for both OF these
averments. so long as individualism lies
at tho root OF the principles on which
the British community is organized. So
long as wages are regulated by the law
OF supply and demand. it is certain
that they would be lowered by the gen.
eral admission OF women to masculine en-
pigments. This will be obvious II we carry
out the plans Of the feminine reformers to
their logical elimination. and imagine a
state OF things in which all women. like all
men. had to work and to work In the same
ways. Then. although the number of con-
sumers remained the same. the number OF
producers would be doubled. and, therefore,
the wages paid In any given employ
ment would have to be reduced one-half.
The effect OF this reduction upon the train
ing OF children would be very serious. AS
1t Is. the wages paid to a craftsman In any
industry tend TO represent pretty accurately
the amount necessary to support. accord
ing to the standard OF his craft and coun-
try, two adults and from two to three
children. The wages contemplate the
discharge OF household duties. including
the care OF children by the wife. and do
not suffice for the hire OF servant. to
whom such duties could be delegated. Now.
as we have seen. II both wife and husband
took part In the work at present reserved
for men. their united earnings would not
be greater than those Of the husband alone
under the present regime. 1t would still.
therefore. be impossible to hire nurse or
servant; what. then. would become OF the
children and OF the home? The women re-
formers have no answer to this question.
30 long as they desire State to remain
organized on the principles OF the orthodox
economy. To find an answer they must
accept socialism. for. In a socialistic State.
parents are to be relieved from all..responsi-
bility for the care and training Of their chill
dren. AS matter Of fact. the great MAORI
ty Of women reformers do not wish to nee
civilization subjected to the dangers which
may attend the reorganization OF State
on socialistic principles. Yet. as We have
shown. the thorough fulflment OF their
demand for the admission OF women to all
employments would logically result either
in the sacrifice of children or In q recourse
TO socialism.
In actual life. however. many ways are