The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-11-22
WOMAN OF
FIFTY IN
HARD LINES
NO WORK FOR THOSE
LACKING YOUTH, GOOD
LOOKS AND CAPITAL
THE TRAGEDY OF new
YORK'S INDUSTRIAL LIFE
Those Willing TO Work Seek
IN Vain for an
Opportunity
lBx Leased Wire.l

New 1UTk, NON. Al.- ut BItdtNob
tragedy of New York's Industrial life
is the tragedy of the surplus women,
the women who are able and willing
to work, but who have passed the
dead line of fifty years"
That was the admission of Miss
Mary e. Dreler, president of the wo-
mems trade union league OF this city
when a reporter went to her with a
dispatch from Boston telling of the
difficulties of the Bay %ate with Its
surplus women"
Over there the Women's Homestead
Association, a local oganization OF
large membership, has sent out reso-
lutions urging the utilization OF ma
tional and state aid TO buy home
steads which are now waste land and
settle these women on them. And
the terms surplus Is appled to "wo-
men who are matured with neither
good looks, youth or capital to aid
them, and who can for these reasons
find no work to do, no matter how
willing they may want to work"
Indeed, we have a very large class
of such women in New York averred
Miss Dreier in response to the first
question. But | am not sure that |
am stating, the situation correctly.
Il think II would be truer 10 say
that we have very large number Of
such helpless womeli III every class.
~ is the supreme tragedy OF our In
dustrial life.
Prison Women BITTER Fed.
1T is almost impossible for the
women over 80 to obtain a position
wherever mental or manual labor
except the very crudest. toughest va
rieties of the latter-insures her even
possible living wage. She Is al.
most as hopeless as If she were In
prison. indeed, the women confined
by the state have better chance for
decent food and beautiful work.
Another suggestion from the Hub
Is a state matrimonial bureau, and an
other is the legislation of plural mar
riages," it was remarked.
Both must have been meant for
satire demurred Miss Dreier For
that matter | doubt ii marriage would
be of any great benefit in large
number Of cases.
Il think that the single woman Is
generally speaking. happier and bet
ter off than the married one. And
think women are beginning to realize
this, and that Is why there are fewer
marriages. A married woman, un-
less her husband can afford servants
or unless she Is not mother has less
personal liberty than almost any one
else in the civilized world.
"Of course, ] believe thoroughly
in the theory of marriage. but | CON
slider the modern practice Of ii full
of intolerable wrong. Single blessed
ness Is blessed by comparison.
"Of course, In the well organized
Industries the labor unions are taking
excellent care OF the older women
workers. Among the hat trImmers
for example, in this city. the girls
take special pains to see that the eas
lest work falls to the seniors among
them. The protective spirit OF sister
hood may go a long way toward soly-
ing the problem, but though II can
make life much easier for the middle
aged workers, 1t hs.p not yet found
the way to supply them with the
work.
Don't Like to be Bossed.
mo woman is ever old enough to
be willing to have her friends look
down on her, anu that is the result
OF the indeiible brand OF domestic
service. Also woman OF so, who has
been used to directing her ownworh
In her own way whether she labored
in office or factory or her husband s
kitchen, simply can not stand having
another woman order her about N
every tiniest detail at her job.
Every woman after she Is 81
years old should receive pension
from the state declared Miss Dreiel
"They are moving toward that idea
with old pensions in England. A wo
man who works faithfully and we'll
carIrg for her family, helping hei
husband, bringing up her children. Is
a soldier Of peace, and that Is great
/ or thing than to be soldier OF war
A woman's work Is seldom an invest
ment. she does not take care onl,
OF those who may be expected to carr
for her In her old age. She gives he
service freely to those who can mak'
no return OF the gift. She is sur
lplus' ON which the state should b'
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