The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1899-06-24
WOMEN AS WAGE EARNERS


81 hope to see the time when every
woman employe in the United States
will be discharged" This is the SEN
timent expressed by Mrs. M A. Dal-
ton, a member of the Woman's Club,
OF Portland, after having read dis
patch stating that the law recently
passed in Nebraska would probably
throw % per cent of the women wage.
earners of that state out of employ.
ment. In explanation of her express
sion Mrs. Dalton said:
II wish to see women discharged so
that men will be compelled to support
them. Nearly every working girl or
woman has father, brother, husband
or some one who should be her pro-
tector and Supporter. There are GER
tain kinds of work which women can
do, light work, fancy work and things
for which their tastes st them. But to
allow them to work and toll and slave 10
and II hours day for small pi ttance
is cruel and should not be allowed
I know that the conditions must be
greatly changed before higher ideal
for women can be reached. But l am
firm believer in the American prin-
ciple of right and justice. Mans
natural sphere is to support and pro-
tect woman. On the other hand,
women become more refined and
gentle if Withdrawn from the course
touch of the world"
In sentiment Mrs. Dalton is emf
nently correct. but to put her ideas in
to practice would work a serious hard.
ship upon thousands of women. There
is no denying that mans natural
sphere is to support and protect
women, but the woman left without
natural protector, must rely upon her
own resources. Then there are very
many young women, though they
have fathers and brothers willing to
support them, who have an ambition
to be independent, hence they go into
employment as wage earners, not
from necessity but from choice. And
there are those whose male relatives
are unable, through misfortune or i'm.
providence. to support them, and for
these to earn their own living becomes
a necessity. The opportunity to Sc
cure the natural protector and sup
porter-a husbands not offered
every girl, and such, unless they have
fathers or brothers a ole and willing to
maintain them, mus provide their own
support by toiling either with their
bands or minds To deny such the op.
portunity of earning a livelihood would
be an injustice which even so sym
pathetic wome n as the one quoted
above would not inflict, for it would
tie the hands of class of women who
are entitled to the greatest considera.
tion, and would make OF them objects
of charity,
However, there are serious objections
to women as rule entering the labor
field as wage earners. While one
cannot but admire the courageous girl
who refuses to be supported by her
relations and determines to rely solely
upon herself, yet all must realize that
by so dong. she lessons her opportu-
mites. or those of some other girl, to
become wife and the head OF
household supported by some man.
For every woman that enters the field
of labor increases the army of workers
and makes the opportunity just that
ruch less for men to secure employ
ment whereby they can support them
selves and families. If by such COM
petition men are driven to accept
wages on which they can sustain only
themselves, they are compelled TO live
single, and thus increase the number
of women wage earners.
= Mrs. Dalton and other good women
who seek to elevate their sex would
do noble work were they to discour-
age girls whom necessity does not
force into employment, from accepting
situations and impress upon them that
their sphere is not in the store, the
Office or the schoolroom, but to become
wives and mothers, and leave the
field open for men and women who
must earn living by toll. Every girl
of well tO-do parents and every mar
ried woman who has husband able
to support, her that accepts position
as a wage Garner does an injustice to
her sex, for she increases competition
in the labor markets, which results
in a reduction of wages, and deprives
both men and women dependent upon
themselves, of opportunities justly
due them. A reform in the systems
governing women wage earners and
making their burdens less heavy is
desired, but it will never be accom-
plished by discharging ali the women
employees at once. Those whom ne.
pessity does not require to work for a
living must first be induced to retire
from the field, aud when this is done.
there will be less necessity for women
to support themselves, as there will
be more employment and better wages |
for men, who will be enabled to as.
sumo their natural. sphere as the pro-
tectors of women.