The Washington times., 1902-03-10
COL. WRIGHT TALKS
OF WORKING WOMEN
Believes Industrial Is Fol-
lowed by Political Equality.
Says They Need to Organize to Escape
Low Wages Now Being
Paid.

Commissioner Carroll D. Wright, head
of the National Bureau of Labor, gave a
noteworthy address to the students Of
| Smith College the other day on THE In
dustrial Emancipation OF Women
President Seelye introduced Colonel
| Wright The Labor Commissioner
sketched the progress of women in in
dustry, and said:
Whether we approve or disapprove, II
Industrial equality is secured, political
equality will surely follow. Looking the
field over carefully. I am inclined to the
idea that industrial and political equality
will be coordinate results, the latter,
however. depending upon the former,
rather than the reverse"
Should Organize.
Colonel Wright named variety of rea-
sons for the low wages of women, and
said:
Woman has lacked SO far the infiu-
ence which comes from combination and
association. l refer to trade organiza-
tions. Furthermore she has not been
political factor The lack of direct po-
powerful reason why woman's wages
have been kept at minimum"
Colonel Wright says there is a popular
expression that so far as purely wage
workers are concerned, the morals of
women are not up to the standard of the
morals OF women under the domestic sys-
tenn" He continued:
Il believe this view to be absolutely
false, and that the morals OF the working
women are upon as high plane of purity
as those of any class of women in the
community. / make the statement upon
positive investigation. / did use to think
that Industrial pursuits engaged in by
woman might cause her some degradation,
or at least bring to her a loss Of respect,
which is always disastrous to any social
sense, for with the loss OF respect for
woman there begins not only loss of
tone in society. but an apparent. and sub
sequently a real, disintegration OF the
family.
No Loss of Respect.
81 have become convinced, however.
that this loss of respect does not occur
through unemployment of the sexes. and
the fact that the co-education OF the
sexes in so many colleges and institu-
ried on with so great advantage and with
out any of the evil consequences which
were anticipated is strong collateral evi-
dence that the mingling of the sexes
either in industry or education, does not
work harm to society, but on the con-
trary, brings great good and secures that
respect which is essential 10 honorable
social and family life.
Il believe that the industrial freedom
OF woman viii tend temporarily to a de-
crease in the marriage rate, and an in
crease in the divorce rate; butt am per-
fectly free to assert that this does not
frighten nee in the least AS woman has
the power given her to support herself,
she will be less inclined to seek mar
riage relations simply for the purpose of
securing what may seem to be home and
protection.
Man Must Be Chivalric.
ITO my own mind, one of the greatest
boons and one of the surest prophecies
which can offer as the result of the in
dustrial emancipation of woman, will be
the frank admission on the part of the
true and chiyalric man, that she is the
sole rightful owner of her being in every
respect, and that whatever companion
ship may exist between her and man
shall be as thoroughly honorable to her