Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-02-10
Defense of Old Women Clerks
in Departments.
WORK HARD AND WELL
DENY INCOMPETENCE AND AS
SAIL THE STEINER SEX.
Scoinful Replies to Gentleman Who
Made Charges Against "Spin-
merriam" Employees.

| lnutilfty or old lady CLERKS Inc opinion
expressed by the author of the letter re-
ferred to does not meet with universal APP
prevail. Indeed. there is some indignant op-
position to it. A woman clerk, who signs
herself lone of Them" writes to the editor
of The Star as follows;
I'm the issue of your paper of the 9TH in
slant appeared letter from a gentleman
on the subject of the employment of women
| in the departments. The strength Of his
sentiments leads one to believe that he is
| somewhat prejudced in favor of his sex. 1,
| as woman, according to accepted opinion.
am not partial to women. However have
an innate respect for justice, and as do
not come under the category given by Mr..
Hayward-being neither old, incompetent
nor likely to remain in Office the rest of
my life-I think 1t but right to say some
thing on the opposite side.
Men, Too, Grow Old.
Mr.. Haywards melancholy forecast is
| mainly based upon the fact that the women
in the departments grow old. fOf course, it
is we'll known that men do not) 1t is sad
thing that any of us grow old, and especial
ly when we have the burden and care
! which rests on the wage-earner of the fam
lily. 1t is sadder thing when that burden
rests on the woman of the family, possibly
because Of the incornpetency or unwilling
ness of father or brother. No public posi-
ton is pleasant for a woman of refinement,
and the cases are very, very rare where
women work for amusement. Women are
| forced into business life by existing condi-
| tons. A family cannot live now on what
| our forefathers would have considered
wealth; a more complete education is now
required to fit young people for the fight for
| existence. The mother or sister who will
not exert every faculty to meet these re-
quirements for the little ones left in her
| care is not worthy of the name. The daugh-
a hny ~ or TO ffa,
when self-sacrifice would bring comfort to
| that mother is deserving of scorn.
Progress Of the Sex.
| $50 much for the necessity which drives
women into the departments. They have
no need to apologize for the work that
! they do. They are faithful and conscien-
| tious.. Women in the departments are no
different from the women in other Offices
| They know that. because OF the prejudice
| existing, they must do at least as much
work as men. Why are women employed
| in the business world? There is certainly
| no compulsion there. And yet they are
| gaining ground all the time. He who
runs may read OF which sex are those
who celebrate every holiday to such an
| extent that it takes from two days to three
| weeks to sober up | know Of several
| Immediately following the New Year. These
were not women. Are the money lenders
| waiting outside of the departments on the
| LIST and the 18th to collect from the Wo-
men? In one building occupied by the
government it was necessary to keep
| side door locked during the day, as GER
tain clerks would slip out on the pretense
| of going down to the basement and would
not return that day. These were so-caled
men--every one of them
Mistakes of Men Clerks
'Men-ambitious men-should be glad to
have the government positions filled by wo-
men. Ask the older men in the depart
| ments today what is the greatest mistake
! they have made in their lives, and nine out
Of ten will say, That l did not leave the
| department. when younger Departmental
life Kills ambition because of its restric-
tons. The temptation to draw comfort
able salary instead of battling for an in
dependent place in the world is too much
for many bright, well-educated man. He
must, therefore, in the years that come
submit to the humiliation of petty Sights
and snubs from men he knows are not fit
to tie his shoe lace He does not stand on
his merit. he must have no originality, no
individuality. He sinks the best part of
him, to be trod on by high and mighty
chief. Or If perchance he becomes a chief
he lives in constant dread of offending by
| a mere difference Of opinion some one above
him.
AS yet, the sphere of woman is limited.
Because of her sex she Is judged according
to different standard from that set up
for man. Because some women are but
ternfes, all women are butterflies. Beca use
some lack business ability, all lack bust
ness ability. Men are all great and wise.
Oh, that the brains of the men and wo-
men in the departments might be weighed
In the same scales. However may the
time soon come when the fathers, brothers
| and husbands will be able to support their
sisters, cousins and aunts' thus saving this
country from the awful danger that Is
| menacing 1t. viz. the employment Of wo-
n In 700 IL,
at Washington"
The Defence of Justice.
Justice makes an attack on Mr. Hay
ward and defends the old women She
says:
Mr.. Henry Hayward seems greatly ex-
ercised over the fact that old lady clerks
are retained in the government offices and
expresses grave apprehensions as to the re-
suit should the present census force be put
under civil service, and thereby be made ELL
gible for transfer to other bureaus. Mr.
Hayward also wastes much sympathy on
the bright young men who on salary of
$500 or 81 600 are compelled to do the work
of the aforesaid old lady clerks who re-
ceive from 81 800 to $l.400. Did Mr.. Hay
ward never discover In his official career
that government departments are not run
on motive of philanthropy or sentiment?
Heads of bureau are quick enough to find
elderly clerks incompetent at the first
sign of mental or physical decay, and If
there Is any discrimination 1t is against
rather than in favor Of women.
Women Clerks Ability.
eff the obnoxious old ladies receive a
higher salary it is fairly good evidence of
their superior ability, and that they earn
| their salaries the records of their respective
offices will show. In the census office.
which seems to be the bette noir' of Mr..
Hayward, the very best work has been
done by women and the very small proper
ton of elderly ones employed there have
shown record fully equal to the younger
element. Possibly Mr.. Hayward has been
passed by some old lady In a competitive
examination who received coveted promo
ton he hoped to win. If we can forgive
him. but he should realize that there are
many old ladies alone in this world who
are obliged to earn their living and are per-
fectly competent to do SO If given chance.
These are the ones who should hold gov
eminent clerkships. Surely 1t is no place
for bright young men, There are broader
fields for them"
Who is This Manp
Miss Brown" moves to the attack of
Mr. HAYWARD foUauS.