The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-05-17
TUBERCULOSIS
. BY 0vERW0RK
Conditions That Employers Of
Women and Girls Will Have
to Remedy at Once
FATIGUE ENCENDERS
POISON AND DISEASE
Opinion of Mrs. Mason, Assistan,
State Labor Commissioner, Re-
suit in Personal Observation,
and Gives Pointed Advice

Mrs. 3. II. Mason, assistant state
LABOR commissioner. in her trips
around the state, is in position to OBJ
serve conditions relative to fema lie
workers. She sees many things that
might be remedied by a little thought
fulness on the part of employers, who
frequently through greed and selfish
ness imperil the lives and health OF
those who work for them. Where
ever it is possible to do so, Mrs. Mason
does her best to relieve the situation
with some pointed advice. II that
does not suffice other methods are
used to show employers that it is thei,
duty as well as their privilege to see
to it that those who work for them
are taken proper care Of One OF
the results from overworks and
thoughtlessness on the part Of en-
ployers is tuberculosis. which disease
is engendered by the confinement and
exposure. OF this, Mrs. Mason said
Better Conditions Needed
'In many occupations / find women
in the state of Washington work sew.
en- days. The present ten-hour Law
carries no restriction as to the weeks
work, so that girls in ice cream par
Tors, restaurants, hotels, drug stores
telephone stations and moving picture
shows work seven days and receive
no higher wage than usually paid 70,
their weeks work. In Seattle where
there exists strong union of the
mattresses they have secured six
day week and minimum weekly
wage OF $40.
In Everett and Aberdeen. the Iaun.
dry girls, through organization, have
secured a shorter working day and
from twenty to Twenty-Five cents ar
hour for their labor. In Tacoma and
Seattle the garment workers unior
have long had the eisht-hour working
day and by a system of piece work
make from $40 to SIS weekly Just
as men through organization have Sc
cured for themselves shorter hours
higher wages and better sanitary con.
ditions, so the working women must
use the same means to accomplish
like results. In its essence, trade or
sanization in her craft means for the
working girl. quickening of the hear
and mind, a teaching in patience and
self-control. in fidelity and self re.
lance, deeper knowledge of life
and sense of fellowship in the world
drama Of industrial and social Pro-
gress.
Value OF Orca nization
THE social values that flow from
the organization of working women
into trade unions has as yet small ap'
probation l shall request the pastors
of the city to give an address OF
preach a sermon on the BENEFITS whicf
will accrue from a shorter working
day for girls and women, not solely tf
them alone. but in the interests "'
all. Fatigue is poison and disease
and develops a specific toxin ent,reN
analogous to the diphtheria or otne'
poisonous toxins. Enough Of the n
tigue toxin injected into amman
causes death. Woman, because OF mel
different organism is more susceptible
to fatigue than man. Her physica
structure, the influence of vigorous
health upon the future weli-oelng O
the race. This difference justihes
difference in legislation and uphoio'
that which Ia designed to compensate
for some of the burdens which res
upon her.
Disease Results of Overwork
Tuberculosis is caused by overworl
as much as any one thing and fund
are readily forthcoming to establish
sanitoria, especially for the young wh'
are its victims. To shorten the houri
of daily toll, to give time for rest ant
recreation to the young during thu
period when susceptibility to infection
is greatest is as clearly life SAVING
service as to build and maintain SAM
toria for them later
The eight-hour law for women soe
into effect in this state June 3. LIE
public sentiment be so strongly or
sanized in this city that through pres
and public it may be so expressed
that cheerful compliance by al
employers may be given to this hui
name and far-reaching measure
Mrs. Mason, who is making be-
home while in North Yakima at tn
Plaza Hotel, will be glad to see any
body who wishes to consult with hel
in regard to the work pertaining Il
the life and welfare of women in th'
field of labor She is at home aftel
o,oIacl- Il, tho ofternOOn