The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-06-17
THE OBLIGATIONS OF UNIVERSE
TIES TO THEIR WOMEN
GRADU ATES
By Caroline L. Hunt


(The following was given at a din
ner of the Northwestern University
Club at Washington, D. c. 1t had
special reference to the acceptance by
the University of large gift OF
money for a gymnasium from James
A. Patten, who came into prominence
year or so ago as the chief benefic-
larry of rise in the price of wheat.)
A University is under peculiar OBJ
legations to its women graduates.
These obligations arise from the fact
that having educated them, having
opened their eyes to see what is going
on about them. having trained them
to form judgments and to hold opln-
ions, it sends them out into world
in which they have no direct method
of making their opinions felt no bal
lot, no voice in the choice of those
who are to represent them and their
interests in public life. These facts,
the fact that the university has train
ed them, and the fact that they are
themselves unrepresented, puts the
university under an obligation to con-
serve their interests even more faith
fully, more conscientiously. than it
conserves the interests of men.
The interests of women center
about the home. The women gradu-
ates of Northwestern University look
ing about them into social and indust-
rial life with eyes that were opened
by the training which they received
at the University, see many conditions
which are affecting disastrously the
interests of the home, conditions that
can be changed only by public ant
united action. They see vast numbers
of men expected to make and 10 main
tain homes who do not receive in eX-
unemployment, under-employmenf,
decency. They note the increase OF
change for their labors enough tol
maintain homes in comfort or even In
irregularity in employment and of
casual labor with a corresponding in
crease of the menace which these
evils offer to home life. They see the
heads of families going forth to earn
their lvings by means of occupation
which are conceded to be socially val
liable and necessary, and yet unpro-
tected from the peculiar dangers ann
hazards to which they are subjected
in the course of their labors. Just at
present they have in mind the fact
that hundreds of homes in the state
in which Northwestern University is |
located have been left fatherless by
means of mining disaster which,
there is every reason to believe, could
have been prevented. They see boys
and young men, the future heads of
households, exploited to make profits
for individuals when all the condi-
lions of their lives should be deter
mined by the needs of their growing
bodies and of their developing mir is.
They see hundreds of thousands of
young women working in factories
under conditions that are rendering
them physically, mentally, and NOR
ally untitled to make homes and to
be the mothers of the next Genera
ton. Just now they are watching with
interest and anxiety the Illinois Ten
hour law (Since this was written the
Ten-hour law has been sustained by
the Illinois Supreme Court. The
Women's Trade Union League played
an important part in bringing this
about. The brief upon which the
decision was based was prepared by
Louis Brandeis. at present. counsel
for CLAWS in the Ballinger-Ffnchot in
vestigation.) for Women An Factor
les which was wrested last spring by
a small group of people from an un-
H. ia nS.sJn ExtYaotD The ton notch |