Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-07-11
STANDARDS OF
LABOR And
LIVING
DISCUSSED BY VARIOUS SPEAKERS
At The NATIONAL CONFERENCE
OF CHARITIES and CORRECTIONS
AT SEATTLE TODAY.
UNDERPAID GIRLS NOT
NECESSARILY IMMORAL


terill, OF Seattle, led the discussion to-
day i'll the round table of the public
supervision and administration" Sec
ton meeting OF the National ConferA
eIce Of Charities and Correction. The
section meeting on standards of
labor and living" discussed the oper-
alton Of minimum wage laws, the
speakers including Mrs. Florence kel-
ley, OF New York, and the Rev. Edwin
V. O'Hara, of Portland, Oregon.
That it is a serious mistake for the
advocates OF minimum wage legisla-
ton to put too much emphasis on the
sC-called moral argument was the con-
tention of Rev. OHara, chairman of
Oregon.
1t is indeed fundamentally moral
ISSUE said Father OHara, zone OF
social justice, but its relation to sex
morality can easily be emphasized too
much. The insinuation that under
paid girls are largely immoral, and
that the increase in wages is going to
make it possible for them to lead
moral lives is false in fact and danger
GUS in policy. Girls will not cooper
ate with reformers who begin by cast
ing reflections on their virtue. Advo-
Gates of minimum wage legislation
who harp constantly on the relation
Of low wages to sex morality are Gre
ating difficult problem for them
selves. 1t is more to the point to show
that underpaid girls are preserving
their virtue but are living on two
meals day and are forced to prac-
tee other pitiable economies which
IL dermine their health and unfit them
for the duties of wife and mother, and
thus sap the foundations of society,""
Miss Margaret f. Byington, of the
Russell Sage Foundation. and Miss
Harriet L. Anderson, of Louisville,
n.y., addressed the families and neigh '
meeting:
Miss Byington said: The organiza-
ion of charitable effort should in
,!ude not only individuals, but those
societies or groups of women's clubs,
;nurch societies, civic associations,
,oards of trade, ETC., which wish to
10 some good work. If their activities
ire left unrelated, much Of the eff
cctiveness is lost and too often posi-
i've harm results. In the average
mall city, it is desirable to have one
trnpu naptral oroaniyatiop which will
york out community program, show
ng what are the immediate needs, Z
What steps are to be taken when these
1st needs are met and what the
OF prevention for the fu-
IRE should be. Leadership means Wis
IN, consciousness Of the far reaching
esults of present efforts and the en-
eavor to relate them to the final So
alton of our problems. Without
trong central organization, however,
nat knows conditions through it's
ontract with dependent families.
uch plans are likely to become less
and sane, less definitely suit
d to actual conditions. tuberculosis,
are all parts of family
and unless we are intelli-
entity working out the problem of the
imily as whole, we cannot be assur-
i that we can solve any fragment of
+. Therefore, any plan looking to the
of a community, to the
'ssening of its misery must have as
) keynote the conservation of the in
rest of those families that need
ZIP or counsel and application to
ose individual cases of the more gen.
al campaigns.
"The small city is the opportunity
r an all round look at social work,
'anting that the work is more re.
ricted than in larger city, and that
ere is less specialization but the
me fundamental principles" said
iss Harriet f. Anderson, secretary
the Associated Charities of Louis
lie, Ky.
Miss Anderson urged the intensive
aiming of people for social service in
nall cities. "The first difficulty in
e small CITY," said Miss Anderson,
5 to define the difference between
aiming and experience. Experience
UNITS so tremendously in the average
ind, that, coupled with good inten-
ons and an ability to talk fiuently, Is
sses for perfection. If by chance
e idea penetrates that training Is
definite study of causes and effects
civic conditions and resources for
then there is hope"