The Washington herald., 1909-04-18

Never has scandal or hinted scandal
in a government department brought
forth the storm OF protest, denunciatiOn,
and denial that greeted the appearance
in a New York newspaper and Wash
ington morning newspaper Of an article
bearing the caption. Seek a Moral Up
lift" and telling Of immortality among
women employees Of the Bureau Of En-
craving and Printing.
From every quarter volleys OF protest
have arisen. The workers themselves.
their chief. Joseph W. Ralph; members
Of Congress and OF the National Cfvic
Federation Of Women wrathfully de-
nsanded yesterday that justice be done
and the -slurs cast on women wage
earners" in the Bureau be retracted and
an apology offered.
The National Civic Federation Of wom-
en- disclaims any knowledge OF having
said that fifty women in the bureau had
been found to be lacking in moral quail
ties, and their discharge would be sought.
Officers of the local Federation also
emphatically deny authorship Of the ar
tioles. and demand that they and their
organization be absolved from blame.
Cruel and UnwarranteG.
1T is undoubtedly the most cruel. un-
warranted and outrageous attack upon
the characters and regulations OF work.
ing girls 1 ever saw IN print. and such
high-handed, reckless. and wholesale
character-sharking should be roundly
condemned from one end OF the country
20 the other declared Representative
Charles G. Edwards, of Georgia, last
night.
Mrs Eva Mcdonald Yalesh. vice presi-
dent OF the National Federation Of
Women, and organizer Of the women's
union 10 the bureau. said last night:
Il never heard OF such an outrageous
attack upon defenseless women. never
before knew a newspaper 10 publish an
attack upon the moral character Of any
individual or a number OF individuals
without the slightest proof TO substan-
tate II IN any way
The union Of Bureau employees viii
meet al $50 O'Clock this afternoon in
Typographical Temple when they will
formulate plans for bringing suit against
the newspapers printing the story. They
viii also pass resolutions demanding re-
traction n both the New York and Wash
ington newspaper. and viii discuss plans
for forcing the publication Of the name
Of the author OF the statements con-
tanned in the story.
The story printed yesterday morning de-
clared that the National Civic Federation
Of Women had planned 10 give entertai1-
ments and benefits for the women en-
ployed In the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing When II was time 10 Issue IN
vitations. the article declared, the benev-
olent women found that many Of the
employees were rot worthy Of their assist
ance. 1t was further printed that the
federation had appointed a committee to
investigate the immortality said 10 be in
existence, and would ask the Secretary Of
the Treasury TO dismiss fifty women re-
garded as unworthy Of assistance.
While the federation denies any knowI-
edge OF the appointment Of a commit
tee, or having found the employees below
the average in morals, many persons,
still under the impression that the So
ciety Is responsible, have expressed them
selves foTcibly
Representative Edwards commended Df-
rector Ralph for his defense Of his en-
ployes He then said:
Wholesale SIander-
II can see no benevolence in such
wholesale slander, in placing over 700
women wage earners under suspicion.
and making public such assertions as
this. Instead Of Furnishing the alleged
guilty fifty, the punishment viii descend
upon the whole number, as the names OF
the 'unworthies are not given. The
whole force is slandered by the report,
couched in inuendo and insinuations re-
hecting upon the character and integrity
of the women wage earners of that bu-
reau"
Mr.. Edwards then spoke Of the cruelty
TO the women. and said:
The person who will seek TO destroy
the character or reputation of a man IS
bad enough, but the person who will will
fully seek 20 destroy the reputation Of a
woman. and especially poor woman. who
has little TO rely upon but her reputa-
ton. is the worst criminal in the world
whether he or she is a member OF an up
lift society or not
Mrs. Valesh, labor worker and officer of
the National Federation. denied emphatl-
cally last night that this organization
had made investigation as to the morality
of women employed In the Bureau o.
made any charges against them, OF rec
commended the discharge of fifty girls on
that or any ground.
Such an assertion Is an insult to every
woman employed in the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing" declared Mrs.