The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-10-24
WOMEN AND LABOR.

WOMEN AND LABOR.
Love lies in the house of labor"
Is true old adage Of the Russian
peasant. says Gertrude Barnum, in
Chicago Saturday Blade. Women IN
all ages have loved and labored faith
FULLY. INCREASINGLY, humbly, patiently,
they have toiled with a pure passion
for service, asking no recognition, re-
fus1ng no task which would serve
those whom they have loved. Being
the weak ones of earth, they have
been forced to do the worlds druid
gerry. So enslaved have they been that
there was no leisure for thought, no
opportunity to plan Intelligent meth
DDS Of labor, no encouragement to fit
themselves for broader usefulness.
In one class wives and daughters
still remain drudges in the household.
In another class they We're dragged
from the home to the industrial field
and harnessed. literally or fguratively,
as beasts of burden. In a third class
they became mere creatures Of pleas
ure. In this age women are thorough
ly conscious Of the ignominy of any
one of these three positions. The So
riety woman yearns for useful occu-
patton and turns to the Arts and
crafts. The household drudge and
The woman in the industrial field are
chatting under the yoke Of the beast
of burden.
or these three classes of women,
those in the industrial field have gained
most In the last generation. They
have reason to be proud of their pres
ent place in Labor Day celebrations.
While this place is still insignificant,
recognition and advantages have been
Nhn which represent a tremendous
advance over the position Of the work.
ing woman Of half century ago.
Men claim that woman has crowded
them out of positions or forced them
to accept unfair terms because of ner
lower standards Of wages, hours and
conditions. This is to be regretted
but it is the result of a patience and
humility which man has taught her
through the ages, and it has perhaps
been ju~t that man in consequence has
suffered.
Today, however, the representative
Women's unions set an example which
all working women should follow,
standing together for fair terms ~tof;
labor. 1t is considered. dishonora BILE
to- sally into the Industrial world for
pin money, to be patient under unjust
conditions, to neglect the education
and practical training Of organization.
Working women begin to realize their
responsibilities as members Of body
when the condition Of each part affects
the whole. Their advent into the in
austrial world will prove a gain. The
present industrial outlook is one in
which Womans influence will work
powerfully for good She must not be
dominated by man, but must strike her
own note in this crisis. We look to
the working women Of Chicago and
San Francisco, especially, as these
cities are now storm centers. Wo-
mans tact and power of sacrifice for
the good of the many will do much to
settle interunion disputes which are
labors most serious dangers at pres
ent. Her intuition. moral courage and
genius for compromise will avert many
strike and go far to bring about just
relations between capital and labor.
Women of other classes are quick to
see the advantages gained by Labor
ing Women" Professional women
emulate their methods of combination
school teachers join the Federation
Of Labor. Household drudges revolt
and swell the ranks of industrial
workers, attracted by the shorter
hours OF work, higher cash recompense
and more honored positions in society,"
Ihere is no reason why women
should abandon their own lines to
turn into the industrial field. Labor
ers in that field have been first to see
the advantages of organizat ton. This
VIII BRING the same advantages In
other Helds The domestic woman
with thought and cooperation should
conquer her own problems instead of
abandoning them to join in the indus
trlal scramble The society woman
car broaden and deepen the signifc-
ance of her title and labor in the SER
vice of society through organizations
surely the woman whose bon-bons
ana sweet crackers are packed by lit
Tie girls IN factories twelve and four
teen hours day, need be at no loss
to know what work to do. Or let Their
pursue Arts and Crafts seriously, o,
so into politics. We might well learr
from the Australian womeni who hav;
gained equal suffrage with men, OF
from the German women,' who are
helping to poll larger labor vote.
There will dawn q Labor Day wher
women of all classes will strive fol
recognition and part in the celebratio,
or the blessings Of labor The dav !.
coming when We shall all labor fair,,
and joyously, each in her own wav
All shall then have leisure for plav
and shall play more heartily. At tn:
end Of such day We shall sleep witt
clearer consciences