The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-13
'R|CH|MONDY,
.AND|TSG0ODWORK
Good Efectof Woman 8
Association on Indus
trial Activities.
WOMAN'S PART In
BUSINESS WORLD
The Women and the Girls in
Commercial and Industrial Es-
adjustments Are There to
Stay-Field Is Now
Opened to Christian
Associations.
BY FRANK S. WOODsON,
industrial Editor.

!s Anduhtrlnt Editor. ~
There Is an institution in Richmond
that Is never thought OF as an indus
trial venture. and as matter of fact,
It Is not Just exactly that. but tho
Young Women's Christian Association
In Its work is looking to the better
ment of industrial, commercial and So
cial conditions so far as they pertain
to business women and self-supporting
girls, and therefore the work Is so
closely allied with every worthy phase
of Richmond's business interest thns
1t becomes. in a very important sense.
an industrial enterprise. and most
worthy one 1t is.
Woman has become a. factor in the
commercial and industrial advance
ment OF Richmond, as well as of other
cities and towns all over this country
and no business man can afford TIC
close his eyes to this fact It lis true
that in certain circles we often heay
some people say woman's sphere Is at
home: let her go back to the home:
to the extent that she takes mans
place In the business world she lowers
the mans wage, makes living more
difficult for both. and in general way
demoralizes the business world"
The Condition That Confronts Us.
II Is waste of time to argue those
questions now. for a condition con-
folks themselves DID not bring about.
That woman is in the business world,
and there to remain. is fact, and is
condition that Is the inevitable re-
suit of the onward march of civiliza-
ton. In all of the cities and towns OF
this country girls and young women
are spending the most of their time
IN Industrial and commercial estab-
| llshments as operatives in factories,
! mills. laundries: as clerks in stores,
banks, factories newspaper Offices: as
cashiers, stenographers, bookkeepers,
and what not, doing work that used to
be done only by men and hogs, and
handling the commodities that used to
be produced by women in their homes.
There are, according to the lowest
1 estimate. $4,000 of such women and
girls in Richmond. and more are com
4 Ing from the villages and the country
every day seeking and finding employ
ment.
So there is nothing to be gained by
discussing the why's and the where
fores of the condition: 'twere better
to look the condition right square in
the face and meet it's requirements.
to the end that TINS condition. which
cannot be now changed, shall rebound
to the good of the community COM
| merciany and industrially and to the
! upltft of social conditions and to the
honor of Christianity and the glory OF
the Ruler of the universe. That is just
the Kind OF industrial as well as re-
ligious work the Young Womens
Christian Association is doing all over
this land
The Aims and Objects.
That may make this the moro
easily understood. let me quote from
an article recently published in a
magazine and written by the secretary
OF the Richmond association. which
article sets forth the aims and objects
of the association. I quote:
The Young Women's Christian As
ISOLATION is the association of the
women of the city together for the
purpose of bringing into practical
realization in every woman's life the
Christian ideals Of womanhood and OF
bringing to her opportunities for ALL
round development. The field is all
measuring rod you may, according to
social position, wealth, business or
Professionalism needs and possihili-
ties In many respects are essentially
the same. #
Its organization is democratic IN
form. The voting membership is COM
posed of Christian women representing
MANY activities and interests. The
body elects at it's annual meeting ia
board of directors to supervise the
work Of the association and to deter
mine its policy. Working with this
board is large number of committees
composed of the members of the asso-
citation. Trained women are employed
to execute the decisions and policies of
the board of directors and OF the
committees. These women are called
secretaries.
The general secretary, usually a CO..
lalege woman with business and So
ciolosical training, is the head of the
staff Of secretaries, the number OF
! which is determined by the size Of ths
city and the development of the work.
These women are the connecting links
/ between the young women who are
served by the association and those
who serve on committees or on the
board
although the activity aud interest
Of the association varies In different
cities, vet as result of twents-tSe
or more wears OF experience. we taNe
iarrived at certain standards in equip
mont and lines OF work. All city as
sociations either own, or are plannins;
TO own. central administration build
ing In the business centre of the city
containing Offices, classrooms. library.
lreception rooms and auditorium. lunch
and rest rooms, gymnasium. baths and
swimming pool The boarding home ia
sometimes found in the same huildins;
, However. this department OF the work 4
is preferably carried on In smaller
boarding homes in the RESIDENTIAL see
tons OF the city. Many associations
own a recreation lot or building m
the suburbs or near the city parks:
others, a vacation home at nearbg
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