The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
HER HUSBANDS TROUSERS.

HER HUSBANDS TROUSERS.
Ever since the Cause of Woman came UP
for discussion, woman disadvantages as
a worker nave formed a favorite theme
for her champions. Her tremendous bur-
dens as a toiler in the home have been
dwelt upon in particular, n If the world
had been less callous to the sufferings so
~eloquently set forth 1t might have shed
oceans OF tears in behalf Of the over
worked housewife. 1t has been accepted as
axiomatic that woman's work is never
done, meaning the woman that keeps
house, cooks, washes, sweeps, makes,
mends and does the thousand and one
things necessary to keep the domestic
wheels turning smoothly. She has been
pointed to as a martyr so long that she is
accepted as an institution permanently
with us. II has seemed too bad, to be sure.
that her work was never finished. but the
public has become really attached to her,
and would hardly know how to do without
her familiar figure. At all events, it has
been assumed that there was no way to
tighten her many cares or to shift her end
less duties. certainty tuOSe WHO WcIc
perpetually calling attention to her unfor-
tunate condition never proposed a remedy.
They assumed a bellicose air toward man
in general as the creator Of the burden laid
upon the domestic woman, but never for
INFLATED a plan for the lifting Of this
weight. The victim herself offered no aid
in solving the problem. but went on bak-
ing and boiling. securing and sweeping,
early and late, just as she had always
done. in meek acceptance of her fate. She
saw no way out. man Offered no way out,
and so her work continued to be always
At last, however, a glimpse Of blue APP
pears in her sky. II she is alive to the
situation she can look at that little rift in
the clouds and see a great change in her
future. The revolution has begun in Phila-
delphia. The wife of a certain union man
of dutiful wives. to put a patch upon her
husbands trousers. This coming to the
| knowledge OF the tailors' union, the owner
Of the trousers was Informed that he
| ought to patronize union men and go to
the repair shop to have his mending done.
| AS a result of this incident the following
question was presented to the next meeting
OF the central union; Does a union man
| violate the mandates OF trades unionism
| when he allows his wife to mend a rent
in his trousers?" A heated discussion fol-
lowed. The presiding officer was disposed
| 70 ,,nbold tha old svstem and aroued that
union men had the right to do the work
| Of other crafts in their own homes without
| violating the laws Of trades unionism. "If
1 choose to do so,' he said, 1T can hang
paper in my own house, or do any other
| work" Then he asked holly, lis a man a
scab simply because he allows his wife to
mend a tear in his pants. instead Of taking
them to a union tailorT"
His position was violently controverted
and it was urged that union men were
scabs under just such conditions, and that
even n union man who shaved himself
should be declared unfair" The subject
was discussed for two hours. and a vote be.
ing taken. the majority was decidedly In
favor of requiring union labor in all places
where labor was needed.
1t seems quite probable that these mer
did not consider the f~ar-reaching effects
Of such a rule. It's inevitable. result viii
be to relieve the housewife OF her heavies,
burdens. She cannot do the family wash.
ing without subjecting her husband to the
discipline of the laundrymen's union; she
cannot do the baking without bringing hin
under the ban OF the bakers union: the
d~ressmakers' union can interfere with hel
sewing. and the cooks and walters union.
can VISIT their displeasure on the head o.
the house II she cooks and serves the
family dinner. Thus, through no effort Of
agitation OF her own, she will be enamel
pated from the toll that by Its endlessnes.
has so long distinguished her. Some thing.
will be left her, perhaps. II the house
maids union does not interfere she may b,
permitted to dandle her W baby. II 4
does object. she will have to join the union
and SO obtain the nursery privileges. Blu
she cannot join all the unions whose field
she has trespassed on for so many years
and the outlook for her is a happy condi
ton OF peaceful idleness. Verify, all thing,
come to him-or her-who waits. Agitation
for her rights has done nothing for her
! nor has relief come because her husbant