The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-10
By Isma Dooly.

HERE are over seVenty-hVe ma
chimes at a standstill in the Nun
nally Manufacturing Company
makers of mems clothing, and this pc
cause of the scarcity of women workers
according to the statement made ffluaS
by the president of the factory. Mr. Orme
Nunnally.
This circumstance proving the scarcity
of labor among women for a class Oh
work that is beyond that Of those cotton
factories or mills, requiring less we'll
raid class Of women, is rather surprising,
in view of the fact that scarcely day
passes th2t one Goes not hear a story
that brings on a series OF comparative
ones relating how this woman or that
one is out of work and wants it; and
that she IS competent and deserving and
ought to have work provided for her
Special writer's" could be kept busy APP
Tealing to public sympathy for cases
among the army of the so-called unem-
ployed, and yet stopping long enough to
investigate a condition Illustrated by this
one existing In one Of Atlanta's best
known institutions, where women are
employed tempts the writer to expatiate
upon the very opposite line.
An especially significant nature does
the subject assume in consideration OF
the fact that the scarcity of labor at
this establishment is not merely for the
present-during the heated term-but it
is so continually the case that Mr.. Nun
nally goes SO far as to state that the
further broadening or development Of in
dustrial enterprises like his own is being
% q f~.f of .+r,,t
women laborers, and that in his mind
the question here In Atlanta now Is not
Can we bring more Industries here?'
but How are we to furnish labor for
those already established, in operation,
and with daily increase OF business re-
curing an according increase of labor
To those impractical theorists about
women who may think this incident of
the scarcity Of laborers among them is a
hopeful sign, that woman at this stage
of her evolution is awakening to the
consciousness that she must return to
the home and there abide, or that the
army Of women forced by circumstances
10 become bread winners is diminishing.
1t may be said that never were they more
mistaken.
National state and local statistics rela-
tive TO women wage earners, especially
among the class who are adapted to in
dustriai avOcations, prove that their num-
Der is on rapid increase. and deplorable
as it may seem, the number of women
forced by circumstances to support them
selves increases in proportion to popula-
ton.
That it is the spirit of woman in this
much talked-of evolution of the sex, and
not necessity that makes OF her bread
winner is an impression scarcely worthy
OF REPUTATION and one does not have to
stop to study the women of this or that
class to know that no woman except in
unusual and abnormal cases would resist
the support of those who had legitima te
right and the means to do so.
Few women with comfortable homes
and the means whereby to sustain them
selves therein would through a desire for
more activity rush into the factory or
mills or even establishments along the
more lucrative and less laborious lines
So whether or not those conditions
should exist that place women in the
position of bread winners they do exist
and there is continuous and Increasing
number of them who have to take care of
themselves. and It would be interesting
to learn just why here in Atlanta, where
there lS the average NUMBER of women
who have to work and many of whom are
III daily quest of it, there is still com
plant among manufacturers of a scarcity
OF women workers.
Probably it may be that in this par
ticular establishment from which the
complaint for scarcity of labor comes
that the conditions not such as to
encourage competent women, the condi.
lions as to hours, the pay. etc" may he
suggested by those skeptical of the sitlia-
ton But the fact is studious invest;.
CATION of the operatives who are employ
ed of the time required of them and their
compensation does away with that prob
ability and after having seen a. work the
employees in many of the factories and
other mills OF the state the state of af-
fairs and advantages of this esta blish-
ment. as in others of similar Industries
iustities the statement that in this case
not only is there an opening for the COM
petent and willing women who plies the