The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-05

must not be entirely credited to the
entrance of the woman wage Garner,
but there is an indisputable connec-
ton between them.
The labor unions have recognized
this connection, and for years have
been working to secure equal pay for
equal work, whether performed by man
or woman. A number of strikes have
been based upon this issue, although
the fact that in most industries the
wages Were not sufficient to provide
decent living conditions for either men
or women has been the more frequent
cause of labor troubles. Until re-
Gently women have been slow to recog-
nize the value of organization, and this
has been responsible for their low
wages in many industries. With the
awakening now demonstrated in many
localities, the subject of Women's
wages in the future bids fair to re-
ceive proper consideration.
The loyalty with which women adj
here to organizations when once they
have united with them has been DEM
onstrated thoroughly in the garment
makers strikes which have been in
progress during the past few months.
In all of these the women made a
heroic stand for the union which aimed
to secure a living wage for all. They
were thoroughly organized, and during
the singing cold, subjected to the in
suit ng remarks of police officers and
men Interested in the triumph of the
manufacturer they bravely defended
their position with an earnestness
equal to any band of men strikers.
The killing of Ida Brennan, the girl
striker, in Rochester last month, only
added to the earnestness of the other
women to secure the wages due them.
Ida Brennan fell from the bullet of her
tailor employer, n is already canon
lied in the hearts of her fellow work.
ers, who believe hat her death will
influence public sentiment in their
favor. And this, in spite of the fact
that the shooting may not have been
Intentional. To their credit it must
be said that the present methods of
the women striking for higher wages
are far more ~peaceable than those of
earlier labor %agitators.
A study has been made of the mum
erous industries in which women are
engaged with reference to the wages
paid. The New England shoe industry
is one of those paying the best Wag
to its women workers. In commenting
upon the effect of a $9-a-Week mini
mum wage law in Massachusetts upon
his employer, a member of one of the
largest shoe-making firms in the world
said that in his belief a firm that could
not afford to pay that sum to it's
workers had nc right to exist. The
average weekly wage in his own es-
adjustment exceeded $12 for each of
the hundreds of women employed, even
allowing for the two or three weeks of
enforced idleness for the annual
stock-taking, with this firm, was
equivalent 20 the usual vacation period
in other industries. This plant is in
advance of many others in equipment,
machinery and provision for the COM
fort and recreation Of it's employees,
but the high degree of organization in
most shoe-making establishments per-
mits a higher wage to both men and
women than in many other industries.
"A study of the conditions of women
Mattresses has been made in Boston,
Chicago. Minneapolis, st. Paul, New
York, Philadelphia and st. Louis.
shows the average wages of
women in this industry to be $685.
weekly. They receive most of their