New-York tribune., 1898-11-21
BALLOT FOR WOMEN.
MISS FLORENCE KELLEY TELLS WHY
THEY OUGHT TO HAVE 1T.
THE CASE HAS BEEN WELL PUT FOR THE PROP
ERTY-OWNER. SHE SAYS But THE WAGE
EAENER HAS 40 PLEADER.

THE CASE HAS BEEN WELL Put FOX Ihf fi'Ni-
ERrY-owNER. SHE SAYS. But THE WAGE
FARMER HAS 40 PLEADER.
Miss Florence X Hoy 80 well known in the work
ing girls guilds. speaking Of the ~orking-womans 5
need OF the ballot has this TO say:
No orc needs all the powers of the fullest citizen
ship moro urgently than the wage-earning woman;
and from tWO different points or view tnat OF
actual money wages and that Of her wider needs
"s a human Ogng am, s, bdy of worknr naon are
determined by many Influences. chief among Which
stands the uositon Of the particular body Of work
ors in question. Thus the printers. by their intel
Eencc their powerful orslniza ton their solidarity
and united action. keep up thei- wages in spite OF
the invason OF their domain by new and improved
machinery. on the other hand the garment work
crs. the sweaters victims-poor. unorganized un.
intelligent desris dremain forever on the verge OF
pauperism Irrespective OF their endless toll. II
sdchy X fGne d t@mcv inc pased
position in which their members were poitlcaly L
inferior TO the members of other trades no effort
OF their al )rt OF complete eniran 'hlselhet;
gtsndirr in IN " est"rm Of their feiiow-craftsmer
AMI the public A. large which they row enjoy and
which contributes materially 20 support their de-
In tho garment trades on the other hand the
voak ana yornG undonhiodly contributes 10 Lmo
cCC nomic w tkne's q thes- u2des. custom haDl,
and employed for tho peopl" who do certain kinds
~ work. contribute 20 determ ne the price OF that
pern,arently hold It's own in competition with en-
franchised rivals But this works both ways. 1t
hanging tho frnEcs OF its skirts other bodies
of workers level just below It's own Tor
that means continual press downward. continual
additional difficulty to bc overcome in the Strug-
gie 10 maintain reasonable rates of wages. Hence,
within the sp9c' of generations th"r" has been
complete revolution In the attitude Of the trades
unions toward the women working in their trades.
Whereas forty years ago women might have
knocked In vain at the doors OF the most enliSht-
rned trades-uniOU of those days to-day the Fed-
Grafton Of Labor keeps in the field paid organizers
whose duty it IL - enlist in the unions many
women rs possible. for there cannot b" two stand
ards of work and wages without constant menace
10 the higher standard.
The cas-. has been well pu' for In" woman who
holds property: th" injustice Of taking her property
i'm taxes and giving her 10 voice In the disposition
made 81 II Is widely recognized. But IS the
proIerty y-owner's property half precious 70 her
as tn. working " omau's son to his mother? The
the integrity Of the police. the honesty and mercy
pulsorv education law. the administration of tho
local scho.l boards. The health OF the working
wornan'S children depends upon the Board Of Health
Keeping the air pure. the water office keeping the
supplies pure the Council placing Tenders on the
troli.y-cars. tO keep her lads from being run over
vnii. Anc * away from home earning their bread.
MANY thiugs which for the property holder are
matters OF Incidental interest are questions of life
and death D the mother who Is a.sO the bread
winner I}ofh FOR herself for the effect which her
Acknowledgement has upon her actual income. and
for the sake of the Government as X comes into
herenceut contact into ruinous collision with
those h, are dcarer 10 her than llt" Itself does the
warr-oaruing woman need the ballot.