Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-31
Woman's Work
Activities Of the Organised
Bodtss Along ahS Lines Of Un-
dertaking Of Concern to women.

In a recent report to the executive board
of the General Federation of Women's
clubs. the federation chairman Of indus
trial and child labor committee made the
following significant announcement.
Your chairman submits that she has
paid especial attention to the matter of
contract convict-made goods as 1t affects
the wages and employment of women. The
whole subject Of convict labor Is one of
pressing Importance and one that is being
treated largely by magazine writer's and
by those qualified to speak. We naturally
desire to advocate reformatory methods in
our penal Institutions but we find that the
reformatory idea OF creating a citizen out
Of a man confined In a penal institution is
lost sight of In the greed for gain in some
one or more contracts.
las a result Of an investigation started
by your chairman along these lines in the
state of New York and which was carried
on through thu state labor department
conditions were revealed which have re-
suited in the organization Of a national
committee on prison labor for the purpose
of making a nation wide study OF this sub
ject and suggesting remedial legislation.
The General Federation OF Women's clubs
may, your chairman thinks, felicitate itself
upon the fact that this committee which
will comprise leading men and women
In the labor movement, among manufac-
turers and for the general public, is q
result of the work OF the Industrial COM
mittee. Your chairman is obtaining from
someone in each state as much data as
possible on the question OF the kinds OF in
dustries in which convicts are employed
"a Z he ma
wages of free women. We feel that all
convicts should be given sufficient en-
ployment, but It should be In industries
in which the men could get employment
were they outside Of prison and for prices
which would benefit the state and the
family of the convict and relieve the tax
payer and not be solely for the benefit OF
the contractor with the pull.
''rhe question of pensions for aged en-
ployes bears heavily upon the women in
Industries and also the question Of proper
safeguarding against accidents and In
these two matters your chairman is CO.
operating with organizations devoting tlEle
and means TO placing these subjects prop
erly before the public.
HELEN VARICK BOSWELL"
The National Women's Christian Temper
ance union has announced a general tag
day to be celebrated wherever there is
branch Of the organization March 10 or
March o. It is to be known as ''Women's
Christian Temperance Union Gift day"
The proceeds viii be divided equally be-
tween the local. state and national unions,
the tags 70 be furnished by the national,
through the state organizations. Further
plans will be announced later. The union
believes this will be the most effectual and
quickest means Of raising the funds neces-
sary for carrying on this years work.
The social science department win pre-
sent the program at Monday afternoons
meeting OF the Womans club. A review
OF the work and the several movements to
which the department has given its sup
port during the last year, viii be given.
Judge Estelle will speak OF the juvenile
court, Rev. George Beecher OF the play
grounds. Miss Janet Wallace OF the Social
settlement. Mrs. Frances Folansbee OF the
city jail. and Mrs. Draper Smith OF child
labor These will be ten-mlnute talks.
The household economic department OF
the Omaha Womans club will meet Thurs
day morning at 10 o'clock. Or. W. L. Ross
VIII deliver a lecture on Food and Diet"
The music department win be guests Of