The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-10-31
(By E. p. Marsh.)

The relation of morals to wages"
has suddenly become a live topic in
Everett and probably no subject intro
dUced as a popular topic in the last
twelvemonth mas occasioned so much
bitter controversy. The remarks of
two women members of the Industrial
Welfare Commission uttered in pub
| lie hearing furnish the basis cf the
furore which has swept Everett into
two divided camps, one intent on get
ting the official scalp of the women
and the other standing solidly behind
the women on the commission.
The objectors have had their day in
court and the women themselves have
replied and it is for fi'c public 10 set
tie back AMI Judge whether the women
were right or wrong.
This article proposes to deal with
the subject of immortality versus wages
in a general way Some of those
loudest in condemning the commission
from a purely economic standpoint,
but that the practical working out of
such a sentiment could work nothing
but social harm. Are they right or
wrong in their protest? Do or do not
our social conditions spring from an
economic cause? If they do not, the
obiectors are correct, if they do, they
are wrong. Personally, ! believe that
most of our social conditions can be
| traced back to an economic cause and
that the removal of that economic
cause will change the social condition.
For some years there has been an in
quiry, national in scope, into the cause
of immortality. The most noted of
these investigations was that of the
Chicago vice commission. This vice
commission was thorough in its work
and the concensus of its report was
that low wages, unsanitary and eX-
hausting conditions of labor was the
greatest contributing cause of immor-
ality. The commission found that
while a small percentage of girls had
drifted into lives of shame from ap-
parent choice, the great majority were
showed into it by economic stress.
Many chose the "easieSt way" after
months and years of honest struggle
for a livelihood. Others drifted into
it without a consciousness of the peril.
Every normal girl Graves and deserves
recreation. After a long hard days
toll, senses dulled and limbs fatigued,
there was the hall bedroom or-the
street. Innocent amusement at first,
but a steady drift downward. While
this was going on society shrugged its
shoulders or endowed rescue homes"
but never thought to strike at the in
dustrial cause The mass of society
failed to place the responsibility where
it belonged-upon its own shoulders
for allowing conditions to exist in in
dustry which bred that thing. The de-
partment store proprietor gave heay-
lily to charity or the church, held his
place in society Nor were all pro-
prietors consciously vicious in the
matter. They (many of them) were
victims of a merciless competition in
business and accepted industrial con-
ditions as they found them as neces-
sary if they were to compete in the
industrial field.
Mr.. Winslow of the Independent Tele-
phone company is undoubtedly honest
and sincere in his views upon the
moral question We would not ques-
ton his honesty of thought and pur-
pose for a moment But does the COM
pany which employs him as manager
put any better conditions around It's
fgirls from a wage standpoint than
MANY of the great department stores
which have become notorious for IN
human working standards? Here are
the wages paid by the telephone COM
pany in this city with which Mr. Win
slow is connected! First three months
$50 a month; next six months, S2o
month; next six months, $2750 a
month; next six months, $50 month.
From then on the wages run up to
$40 (or some such sum- per month.
A Girl must work then fifteen months
in this establishment before getting
$50 month. Her needs are as great
here living cost just as much during
the first three months as during the
second year period. What chance mas
the 500 a month girl to support her
self decently unless she lives at home!
If she lives at home father or brother
must dig into his earnings to exc out
the girls livelihood. is that fair or