The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-06-19
Says Women Are Cause Of High
 Cost Of Living

Writing to Prof. Simon N. Platter.
 Of the University of Pennsylvania, {
 New York student says:
 | "The American woman of today il | economically worthless.
 | Under present conditions one-hal1
 or the population of this country i:
 supported by the other half | Let the women of America take
 up their share of the work and the | pressure upon the economic resources
 of the family will be equalized.' That is how Prof. Patten read the
 signpost at the crossroads of woman's | destiny. Here lies the sheltered path | so narrow that down it the woman follow like an Indian squaw at the
 heels of her lord There runs the
 road so wide that man and woman
 may walk it shoulder to shoulder i Prof. Patten believes he knows which l way the woman will choose Gradually the prejudice against women in the commercial world will disappear declares Prof. Patten. "As the conditions improve under which women labor the so-called chivalry of
 man will resent economic equality less The phase of the shirt waist strike that pleased me most was that the strikers insisted on better sani- tary conditions. It was good to know that women realize they are entitled to these things"
 Wears ago." commenced Prof. Pat ten, swinging into the interview with a long breath, years ago our grand mothers worked for their living. They were of economic value. The cotton our grandfathers grew our grand mothers wove into cloth. The wheat that was raised in the fields they made into bread. The household du- ', nf 1H Ri ta economic value.
 No Fault of Woman
 with the advance of civilization. the tools with which women earned their share of the family bread were taken from them. Modern convent ences made many forms of manual labor not only unnecessary, but inn practical. Women were left with their hands idle.
 NO. fault of the woman you say. Exact1y-and of course not, The fault or virtue-as you would view it-be- longs to our time, but none the less. these are the conditions that have been a factor in the present economic crisis.
 Three reasons have been given for the high prices prevailing in America today. z All of them, I think, are wrong. First, it has been said that our trouble is due to too great an in crease in gold Second, 1t has been said there is a slow and steady fail ure of our national resources The third reason is given usually by So- cialists. It is that the masses are be- ing exploited by the classes. That so much is being kept from the laborer that he cannot live. As matter or fact, it is not the laborer who is feel ing the present condition. It is the middle-class man with a salary around s3,o0o year."
 .'These being the wrong reasons, Prof. Pattten, what do you think are the right ones?', I asked. ,., i- -yc
 "In my mind there are four reasons for the increased cost. of living in America,'' Prof. Patten went on ex- plaining, "but first let me say, before I go any further, that I regard the result of dynamic nations tendency toward higher standards. To be sure it is rapidly making normal life for a vast multitude of people impossible. but, on the other hand, the readjust- ment must come.
 Pace the Nation Travels
 ''In the meanwhile, of course, Americas standard of living is the marvel of the world. Look at the in- crease in the number of families who command an income of over $5,000 a year. Look at the enormous amounts we spend for our schools, and con- slider the tremendous amount of sur- plus money that is spent for mere amusement; spent on theatres and Coney Island and on nickel shows of all kinds. And among the people who patronize the Coney Island type of amusement there is a demand for comforts that were denied to kings in the middle ages. Tropical fruits are on the tables of our mechanics, ana modern plumbing is in the bathrooms of their flats"
 "But you are getting away from your four reasons demanded.
 ooh, yes, remember" conceded the professor. well, my four reasons for the present high cost of living are these:
 ssF,irst, the lack of sufficient capi- tai.
 "Second, bad distribution of pop ulf ion..7
 Third, the isolation of producer and consumer, and the necessity for too much handling by too many mid dlemen.
 "Fourth, the new status of wom- an."
 A Little Story
 (Which leads us back to where we remarked, much interest ed.
 "Yes,' admitted the professor, "and | now let me tell you little story. A young man, friend of mine, earns s25 a week. He is in love with a girl | who Is working for her living, and | earns SIS a week. This young man is anxious to marry the girl, but he does not wish his wife to go out into the | world to work. It is finally agreed that she shall give up her position and that they are to marry.
 Do you see the economic position into which this couple is forced? Be- fore he married, this young man prob ably spent most of his s25 himself. The girl doubtless spent most of her SIS. Now they are forced to live. both of them, on the s25. It is quite plain children are out of the Ques- ton for them. They could not afford q family And it is equally plain a nome is out of the question, too" YOUR NEIGHBOR'S EXPERIENCE How you may profit by it. Take Fo- ey Kidney Pills. M. Morano, A Woodbridge St., Hartford, Conn.,, says: For. many years I suffered with weak kidneys and had awful pains across my back and was mis- srable and tired out I heard of Foley Kidney Pills and the good they were doing and decided to try them md am gIad I did for after taking hem a few days the pain left my pack and although I have taken only ,ne bottle I feel better than I have |