The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-09
SITUATION OF WOMEN
 IN REGARD TO STRIKES

SITUATION OF WOMEN
 IN REGARD TO STRIKES
 The strike continues. Men, women and children are being sacrificed, their homes, their happiness. their daily bread and for what? Simply because lot of men won't get together and use the sense that is God-given to them and bring about an adjustment of one of the worst evils this district has ever known
 Most memories. unfortunately, are short, but surely the vivid scenes or lSS4 are easily recalled. The whole state was in an uproar over conditions Of a similar nature as those now existing.
 Mass meetings were held, committees of safety were formed, Governor Jones had to leave his post of duty at the cap ital and personally appear on the scene the question of declaring martial law was discussed-all of these things happened in a civilized community. And IL is precisely the situation today
 The man who is willing to Work IS afraid to do so-the threats against him most dear and close to him in the world his wife. his children, all those who arc most dear and colse to him In the world are left to the rnerciless attacks of crowd of ruffians whose hearts must be absolutely devoid of all feeling.
 How can a man stick to his post or dutv. knowing that hourly his home may he dvnamited or destroyed in some way, and the lives of those dear to him snatched from him by set of men whose methods are as pitiless as the inquisition!
 And what do these disturbers of the neace gain? Every day their income Is being depleted, their homes are suher- ing for the care and attention that were received in prosperous times; their wives and children are in as unhappy state as can possibly be imagined And Wno profits by 1t?
 Unionism in labor along upright, con- seryative lines, giving capital the conslo- eration it is entitled to, is admitted by all evenly-balanced, just people. At the same tme the rights of employers must be maintained.
 The strikers have their side. The cor porations theirs. The public has It's sioe. There would be lack of civic patriotism if there was a failure of interest in the welfare of the community at such crisis The people are feeling more and more each day their sovereign right to consideration in the matter.
 To discuss at length the relative rights of such contentious would be mere idle ness. At any rate, the final decision Ill such a competition rests, not on the rel
 
 involved, but upon the workings of nat ,,ral laws It is courage that makes right, conscience that makes truth, and man IS the only animal that can put up moral fight, seeking to overcome an environ ment and attain an ideal.
 If the present alone had to be consid- cred things would be different. In the life of almost every man the time comes to choose between immediate gain and future advantage; and the man who puts away the alluring gleam of the present for the more substantial beneht or the future makes no mistake. What IS to De- come of the children when school tune comes? Where will the necessary artl- cles of clothing come from when the sum mer is over and these necessities arise! The father idle all summer long, the mother spending her little savings for the actual requirements of daily life; isn't 1t enoupb to make the best of us quake in our boots?
 This season of the year the good house. wife whether she Is mistress of the hum ble cottage or the palatial mansion, IS making her plans for the future She Is busying herself with the interesting things that women love to do-storing her I.rder for the cold wintry months with delicious delicacies; preserving, picking, making quantities of all sorts Of nice things that will please husband and chll- dren and make her home attractive. At this time most women are empioyeo III these little household affairs; but now Is if this summer? Quite different-the eX- cheouer depleted the provider anxious for his family and their future, lhe cry of "harder times," and no end or the str;,.a in view-all these disturbing, har- rowing things grating on one and ao- ~o,uteI, uniting one for any duty or pIeasure that may arise. Things are ielt nndone and the ravages or worry anu discomfort are visible in every avenue or tbe home and it's surroundings
 The strikers" the men who are sun at work, the corporations are oranono' -' of industry and trade IS suleiins - tn Inc effects of the strike; but listen to this story.
 noor widowed mother, whose sole ,nconoe is the rental from number or houses in one of the mining towns, tolu her lawyer a few days ago that she was practically reduced to a state ol nenury since the "strike." Her houses nreyionsly had been rented to mlners' unfortunately her renters were among the men who have quit. Her property is standing idle and vacant, her taxes will soon be due, she has house full of children dependent upon her Tor th air bread And what is she 10 uo IFS pitiful case and only one of many in the strike infected district.
 Few realize how much the women have suffered during the weeks that have intervened, since the beginning of the strike They have born 1t brave ly. but it has been a great burden. The inactive part that has been assigned to them has been far greater than any trial that has come upon the men. Att ar all. to women belong many of the oh gro medals" The hardest fights are nut up often by those brave hearts bearing crosses for others, never com plaining. never faltering, always sweetly and serenely clinging to their post of duty, unknowing often their own greatness.