Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-29
LABOR PROBLEMS UP
Social Betterment Discussed
by Club Federation.
FOR WOMAN INSPECTORS
Would Greatly Improve Working
Conditions for Sex, It Is Said.
SHOALS NOW ARE FACED
Disposition Of Suffrage Question
Without a Split in Organization
Is Puzzling.
AIS NOW ARE FACED

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2s.-After a
day In the cities and towns Of the beauti-
fh Santa Clara valley, 100 clubwomen.
delegates to the biennial convention of
the General Federation Of Women's Clubs,
took up the work of the convention today
with renewed zest. The chief event of
the morning session was the conference
or the department of industrial and social
conditions. of which Miss Helen Varick
Boswell OF New York is chairman. The
interest Of the women in the subjects
that were discussed in this department
was evidenced by much preliminary dis
cussion. Each state had a report upon
its efforts for social and industrial bet
terment undertaken during last year,
and these reports were generally en-
couraging. Among the subjects discussed
by the representatives were:
How to get legislation and how to en-
force 1t; opportunities for social develop
ment; responsibility for employees; the
attitude of the employees; real efficiency;
child labor problems.
Important Subjects.
THE things Of main interest to this
bill. the convict contract labor problem
and the national Industrial commission, .
said Miss Boswell in her address. The
most helpful thing for women and chill
dren in the Industries at the present time
Is to get woman factory inspectors I'M
der the state labor bureous; to get more
Of them, and where conditions warrant
to have appointed a woman assistant
state labor commissioner.
The seeing eyes of a woman trained
to detect in the home those things that
should not be. with mind trained to
suggestion of remedies, Is not only OF
benefit to the women and to the children
OF legitimate ages employed, but of great
value to the heads of factories and mer-
camille establishments which she goes to
inspect"
Other features scheduled for today were
the report Of President Moore and the
trustees on the endowment plan and the
report of Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker OF
Texas, chairman of the field endowment
committee. Mrs. Philip Carpenter Of New
York and Mrs. Sarah Plat Decker OF
Colorado promised to make pleas for the
endowment fund.
Series Of Conferences.
To this afternoon was assigned a series
of conferences on industrial and Socia.
Conditions and Household Economics -
The evening session was set apart for a
musical program, an address by Charles
A. Prosser Of New York, executiy. secre-
on 1.-THE Needs and Possibilities of Voca-
tional Education" and an address on
Vocational Guidance and It's Application
to Women" by Miss Laura Grace Gill; 6.
c. L.. University of the South. Sewanee,
Tenn.
Although many Of the delegates have
been fighting shy of the suffrage ques-
ton, 1t was evident that strong effort
will be made to bring the matter before
the convention Mrs. w. w. Baias OF
Texas said she would introduce a resolll-
ton that will compel the convention to
declare itself on the issue. Mrs. Bains
said that II no action were taken at the
convention one thousand Texas women
would want to know why.
Is Facing Danger.
Two other subjects engrossing attention
were prohibition and dress reform. MANY
of the delegates have taken the stand
that the questions of suffrage and prohi
bition should not be introduced in the con.
vention and that it is only by refrainins
from partisan politics that dissension car
be prevented and a possible split in the
federation avoided.
Both of the candidates for president
Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs Pennybacker
agreed that suffrage is desirable and tha
support of it is the only logical attitud,
for a woman to take. They say, however
that the passing of a resolution in favo
Of suffrage is fraught with danger to tn,
organization. A way out Of the diff
| Guilty seems to be that suggested by tn,
Louisiana delegation, according to {
statement by Miss Grace Smith, a pas
president Of the state federation, tina
the matter be referred to each individual
club. so that when this question comes uI
in the convention in 1914 the delegates
will be in position to vote as instructed.