Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-12-23
EDITORIAL OPINION.
SPOKANE SPOKESMAN REVIEW ON rHT
CAPABILITIES OF WOMEN.


SPOKANE SPOKESMAN REVIEW ON THE
CAPABILITIES OF WOMEN.
In It's announcement that IL will
no longer employ women clerks the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad has
made radical departure from the
method OF employing labor. II the
women OF the United States fail to
make it uncomfortable for the North
western because OF the reasons ad-
vanced by that road IL will be because
the temper OF the gentler sex has
undergone a radical change.
The point that women are unified
for the higher positions OF trust att
responsibility is a mooted question.
The only ground the Northwestern
chief has for his decision is his own
individual opinion. The experiment
has not been tried to such an extent
by railroads that the advancement OF
women TO higher positions has been
proven failure, while on the other
hand different lines of business have
found IL profitable to employ women
as their most trusted agents.
In the struggle for existence
woman has been compelled Tn enter
many lines Of trade. Unable TO labor
With the plek and shovel la this coun-
try, because popular sentiment Is
against IL, she goes into the counting
room, the school room, the railroad
ofice, is stem ographer for business
arms, private secretary for magnates.
Giyen the same educational advau-
tages, the woman makes as good n
clerk as man. After she has passed
the kittenish age she may be depended
upon 70 be thorough In her work, ard
che Ia strictly honest. No one ever
heard OF a defaultlng woman bank
cashier, while cases OF embezzlement
bT women are SO rare that they may
be counted on the fingers OF ones
hand
Itfollows II they are competent TO
be good stenographers and clerks Ia
railroad Offices, they have an even
start with the male clerks in the pos
slblllty OF taking care OF larger re-
sponSlbilltles.
Men believe that woman's sphere is
the home, that she shines there ~ the
best advantage, but unfortunately all
women do not possess male relatives
TO support them, aud must either
work or starye. II woman is COM
PEELED TO compete against man IL Is
unfair to under-rate her capabilities
The labor problem 10 measure
would be materially aided II the sexes
we're placed on IAN equal basis and
women demanded the same wages for
the same work as men. The gentler
sex Is TO blame because that abuse
exists, but that Is minor matter.
Still, II makes even less reason for
the excuse the Chicago g. North
western gives for dlscharging It's
women employees
TACOMA LEDGER ON NEW EMPLOY
MENT FOR WOMEN.
Among the other unreasonable pro-
positions advanced at the recent con-
yentlon OF the Federation OF Labor
was resolution which, after where
aslng that woman is Incapable OF
manual labor without injury TO herself
and unborn generations, demanded
that the United States government
immediately remove all women Ia It's
employ and thereby inaugurate a pre-
ceient for the removal OF woman from
the everyday walks OF life ard rele-
gate them TO their home.
While this resolution was not
adopted 1t preclpltated an extended
debate upon the alleged economic evils
OF the present competitive wage sys-
ten. This ls a subject which, with
out doubt, will continue 10 furnish
opportunity for discussion for many
years 70 come. The entrance OF
women into what may DO called
"maDual labor" as stenographers,
typewrIters, clerks, bookkeepers and