The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-12-08
WOMEN OF THE FACTORY
SUFFER MORE THAN MEN
Eve Mcdonald Valesh Writes Stir.
ring Article of Question of
Woman Worker.
Trade Unions Doing Much to
BringWages Of Women up to
Those of the Men.

When club women ask what has been
done to make life more livable for
wage earning women the answer is,
that SO far the American Federation
of Labor is the only force in society
which has concerned itself to any
great extent with active and practical
work for the advancement of wage
earning women.
The advent Of woman into the in
dustrial world is comparatively recent
SO that the American Federation Of
Labor in the twenty-fi five years Of it's
existence has had ample opportunity
to know how unjust, how degrading,
have been the conditions which have
surrounded women workers..
Women Of the shop and factory have
suffered even more than men in the
modern march Of commercialism. Wo-
men, as less able to defend themselves
and less cognizant Of their rights in
the industrial world, have, in many
cases, been the victims Of treatment
SO heartless as to be almost unbeliev-
able. Much has been accomplished by
the American Federation Of Labor. but
much more remains to be done. Every
organization, every Individual work.
Ing for the betterment of society, Is
concerned in the conditions under
which age-earning women work and
what life mean sto them outside of
their daily toll.
That so many women are organized
into trade unions is regarded by the
American Federation Of Labor as a
most important advance in their con-
dition. All well-informed students Of
economics agree that the trade union
Of today Is a necessity to the workers.
1t is an econemtc fact from which
there is no escape, whether or not one
individually approves of them. They
are no more to be ignored or suppress
ed than the modern processes Of in
dustry.
If the trade unions are necessity
for men they are still more so for wo-
men, as women are physically weaker
and temperamentally less fitted than
men to combat the strain and tension
of modern industrialism.
AS a. rule women are organized in
| unions with men rather than separ-
ately land this proves advisable, for
the men then become their champions
and protectors rather than their COM
| petitors.
While detailed information in regard
! to the good work accomplished in var
| lous organized trades where women
! participate can not be given here Un
! fact the statistics would fill volume>
yet the American Federation Of Labor
can furnish ample proof that in every
case where women have entered trade
unions the following radical impro.
| ments have been secured:
| Advances in wages to something ap-
preaching living wage.
Reduction in hours to eight per day
in many cases and in others to 10,
! where formerly it was not uncommon
for women to be required to work IA
and Is hours a day at most exhaust
ing and combining employnents.
Greatly improved sanitary conditions
Of workshops.
Under this latter head much might
be written of sweaters forced to offer
their wretched women employees the
change from the home workroom in
the filthy tenement to properly con-
structed and adequately lighted and
ventilated workshops.
It is now we'll established fact
that reasonable. hours of work, fair
wages, we'll constructed, clean, and
we'll furnished work-rooms are profit
to the enlightened employer. Many
employers testify that the actual COM
mercial results are in favor Of the
conditions just cited as contrasted with
long hours, low wages, and unhealth-
full Workrooms.
THREE HOTELS BURNED.
! CONNEAUT LAKE, Pa, Dec. A.