Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-18

them. The Legal Aid society's experience
now is that even the poorest in learning
in this city know the law is meant to proc
tect the poor as we'll as the rich.
During 1907 1897 persons asked help of
the society to collect wages, and nearly
so per cent of these were women. More
than 100 persons, mostly women. appealed
for aid to straighten out domestic affairs.
On account of the many cases Of bank
ruptcy In the last few months, the num-
Der OF appeals to collect wages will, 1t is
said, be larger than ever. In all the Of
fices of the society is hung this extract
from the writings of Abraham Lincoln:
Encouraging Litigation.
discourage litigation. Persuade your
neighbors to compromise whenever you
can. Point out to them how the nominal
winner is often the real loser in fees, eX-
penses and waste of time. As a peace
maker the lawyer has a superior oppor-
tunity.'
This is practically the society's motto,
the aim and object of the directors and
attorneys being to make the society, If
possible, take the place of the courts as a
means Of arbitration. As a result only
about one-ninth OF the complaints made
become the subject of litigation.
In the case Of women. though, this pro-
cedure is not always satisfactory. A young
woman walked into the Grand street Of
flee the other morning and showed a
check for 81 received from a recent en-
ployer for whom she had worked as sales
woman in payment for eight days work.
Without warning she had left her job,
she admitted. and taken another with a
nearby store. although some days earlier
she had had a promise of a raise from s.
TO $3.50 a week II she stayed where she
was. Her plea was that she ought to get
$50 instead of Sc for her last weeks work
and a proportionate sum for each of the
two extra days.
Patiently the attorney pointed out that
her employer refused 10 add one cent To
the amount of the check because the girl
had not kept her job. He earnestly advised
her to accept the check. NO said she
with a toss of the head. Il will go to
court about 1t first" and go to court she
will, regardless of the pay she will lose
by absenting herself from her work to at.
tend court and of the fact that the judge
win probably decide against her. This is
a sample Of the persistency shown by
some Of the wage-earning young women OF
today.
III the same Office sat a mluule-dBeO
Polish woman. She was a nurse and tbs
society was trying to collect $50 due from
her last case, The husband OF the woman
she had nursed was able enough to pay
the amount. but until the society got after
him he had contented himself with paying
the woman a few dollars and making prom.
Uses. Rather than so to court, the attor
ney said, the man is certain 10 pay up.
TIE first assistant attorney at the so
ciety's main office. in speaking Of tn.
great increase in the number OF womeI
applicants. said that there was a proper
tionate increase In the number of case
relating 70 the abduction of children ant
awarding the custody OF children. said he
) Strange 10 say. in nine cases out OF TEL
the father makes off with a boy or cir
2 simply TO spite the mother. Often h
4 doesn't really know what to do with tn
O youngsters. the usual plan resorted TO be