Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-06-14
A WoMAk,s INFLUENCE.

Suci; women as Jane -t6Gams who
need the franchise. The great National
Conference of Charities began yester-
day in Cleveland. Its deliberations
and the platform il is to adopt are
quite as important as the deliberations
Of the political conventions and the
platforms they shall adopt in their
ultimate effect. This platfro,n grew
about Hull House in Chicago and de-
veloped under the care Of Jane Ad-
dams 1t is not a longhaired man.
shorthaired woman platform. 1t goes
uppermost in the common mind today
and its demands are plain enough for
the newest immigrant TO read as he
run.
In the matter OF wages the commit
tee calls for a LIVING wage for all who
devote their time and energy 10 liz
dustrial ocupationss: and for the crea-
ton of minimum wage commissions in
each state 70 determine the standards
which the public Will sanction as the
lowest level for pay. Properly consti-
tuted authorities, the committee holds.
should be empowered to require Of
employers TO file with them for public
purposes such wage scales and oshef
data as &c earnings as the public e.e-
meri in industry demands. The move
mert for honest weight and measure.
has its counterpart in industry said
Nj Lovejoy. "All tailies. scales. and
check systems should be open to pub
lie inspection and inspection OF COM
mi1tees of the workers concerned
Under housing" the committee stands
for The right to home Social
welfare - says, demands for every
family a safe, and sanitary home;
heaithful surroundings; ample and
pure running water inside the house;
modern and sanitary toilet conven-
fences for its exclusive use: adequate
sunlight and ventilation; rea sonable
fire protection: privacy: rooms OF SUI
ficient size and number TO decenty
house the members Of the family The
committee calls for the abolition OF
tenement house manufacture, which IT
regards as a serious menace TO the
health, education, and economic lnoe-
pendence of thousands of people in
llI
liant proposal concerning taxes. ITO
protect wage earners from exorbitant
rents md 10 secure for them that in
creased municipal service demanded
by the massing together Of people in
thickly settled Industrial communities,
a greater share Of taxes to be trans
ferred from dwellings to land held for
speculative purposes the value OF
which is enhanced by the very con-
gestion of these industrial popula-
tons"
The committee calls for the prohibi-
ton Of child labor under is years Of
age, the prohibition of women in work
which conpels standing constantly;
the prohibition ow woman labor for
period Of at least eight weeks at the
time of child birth. 1t calls for min
imum standard Of preparation, incluo-
ing at least sufficient educational OPP
portunity to abolish illiteracy among
all minors and to train every minor
over 1s years Of age to some form OF
industrial efficiency.
This is part of the platform. How
will it strike the average person VINO is
giving thought to social conditions
When it becomes the platform of the
social workers in every community in
the United States what will be the re-
suItant effect on American politics and
how long will it require to make these
results evident?