New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
Washington, Declares War
There Shall Be No More Industrial Despotism
in the District of Columbia.

League label on SAFE Oul Is duNeI usIIIS
il in the papers.
The league is now conducting an investi-
cation into the hours OF labor apd the
earnings of women and children in the dis
trict, the number OF girls employed in
stores who are practically without homes
and dependent for living upon their own
earnings, the average earnings OF sich
women, etc On this subject an extremely
interesting report by one Of the leagues
members already exists
Commissioner Neill, in his report to Con-
gress on the conditions Of woman and
child wage-earners in the United States,
says:
"What determines the wage level for
wage-earning women? Is It the woman
adrift I'm the world and dependent upon
herself for support, or Is 1t the woman
who. though forced TO earn her bread, still
has the security Of a home and the assur-
ance that should she be compelled to with
draw from the ranks of the wage-earners
| for a while others in the family could pro-
tect her during her temporary unemploy-
ment?
The attitude Of many Of tho department
store employers in itself would indicate
that the partially supported girl is the sole
agent determining the wage level for herself
as well as for her self-supportng sister.
Some of the employers advertise for sales
women, preferably those living at home
Others have gone so far as TO state TO ap-
plicants that without other sources Of in
come, unless they live at home. girls can
not live honestly on the wages stores are
accustomed to pay. This known preference
has created a tendency among the girls TO
misreprescnt their real domestic status.
Edith r., when she answered an adver-
tisement for a position, declared that she
lived with an aunt, though she neglected 10
explain that her aunt did not live in the
city. The superintendent OF big store re-
fused work to an applicant who answered
No 20 the usual query: DO you live at
home?' but reversed his decision when the
girl stated that she lived with married
sister This girl explained that she had
no married sister, but she knew that the
| only way TO get the job was TO make the
superintendent think she was practically
at home
The Commissioner brings out a great
many interesting facts regarding the en-
ployment of girls in department stores at
! ~
pay their board, its effect on their morals
| and the great risks they run in being
brought in contact with immoral charaC-
| ters. i. G.. those combining legitimate and
| illegimate methods for earning money. The
report throws light on the large number Of
women employed in the department stores
of New York, Chicago and other large
cities who offer all sorts Of inducements 20
young girls-espeCially those without homes
and dependent entirely on their own earn
ings-to make extra money in immoral
ways.
Ii is this condition Of affairs which the
league hopes TO remedy, and 1t is demand
ing not only living wage but shorter
hours Of labor, and therefore it Is greatly
interested in bill introduced by Represen-
tative Berger to reduce the working hours
Of women.
The executive committee OF the Consum-
ers' League Of the District of Columbia is
composed of seven of Washingtons most
prominent women, including Mrs. Harvey
w. Wiley, president, wife of the Chief
Chemist of the Department Of Agriculture;
Miss Constance u. Leupp, vice president;
Miss Ruth Noyes, corresponding secretary;
MIS-. heulll MCNOTlllCh, chairman Oh lHt
educational committee Miss Elizabeth
Bryan, chairman of the label committee,
and William ID. Hoover, treasurer. En-
rolled as honorary vce-presidents are Miss
Mabel Boardman. Of the American National
Red Cross; Miss Amarylls Gillett, Mrs.
Charles T.. Hughes, wife of Associate JUS
tice Hughes Of the Supreme Court; Mrs.
Charles A. Goldsmith and Mrs. Ernest w.
Roberts. wife of Representative Roberts.
The advisory board includes the Right Rev.
Alfred G. Harding, Bishop OF Washington;
DR. Henry ]. Harris. Charles F.. Kern the
Rev. Dr. William J. Kerby. OF the Catholic
University; \. J. McKelway, secretary for
the Southern States Of the National Child
Labor Commission; Judge Julian w Mack,
OF the United States Commerce Court Mrs
Ellen Spencer Mussey, Charles p. Neil,
United States Commissioner Of Labor, and
the Rev John Van Schaick. jr.