The Washington herald., 1913-01-23

In the annual report Of the New York
State Bureau of Labor Statistics, pre-
pared by Mr.. George A. Stevens, senior
statistician in the department. there IL an
interesting review Of womans Htner
stormy struggle for admission to tne
printing trade.
He shows that away back in the early
part Of the eighteenth century women
were not unknown at the case ana press
and that prominent among the rev VINO
practised the compositors art were TWO
nieces of Benjamin Franklin. Later IN
the century the number grew. but NOBODY
cared very much about II, because the
women almost invariably were part OF
the household Of the proprietors- whom
they assisted. Therefore they were not
looked upon as employees, and, what IL
more to the point, were not dealt with
as employees Tor there was a pretty
ado once the word went abroad. many
years later, that a master printeI seri-
ously contemplated the employment OF
women as typesetters in his establish
ment. 1t was reported. too, that girls
were to be employed on the government
printing at Washington. and that they
really were working at the cases IN
Philadelphia.
And the printers thought IT high time
to learn how big a fire was back OF tnat
menacing smoke. So they passed resoiu-
tions and sent them broadcast TO other
cities. asking II any such direful conoi-
tfons prevailed in their midst, ana, II
such were the case, begging Information
as 20 their plan of operation ito prevent
the further progress OF the eVh.
Tempest in a Teapot.
But. so far as actualities went. 1t
was all tempest in teapot at that
time. for the scare was brought about
simply by the movement then in progress
to widen the Industrial field Tor women
and give them an opportunity TO engage
in more profitable employments than
were open to them in those early days.
II was not until 1855 that young wom-
en- in New York City first began to be
employed as compositors; and one might
suppose that by that time the printers
would have Gained their fears and have
decided to make the best of what might
mr. might not prove a bad situation for
them.
But not So They did not want women
at the cases. and would not have them
il they could send them back to their
proper sphere. And they took pretty
strenuous steps to drive them away, and
TO break down what they called this
injurious innovation.
They communicated their grievances TO
newspapers. passed resolutions in their
ORGANIZATIONS opposing the recognition OF
the employment OF women as compost
tors, sometimes fatty refused to work in
an establishment where a woman was
employed. and altogether demonstrated
that there are situations in this practis
cal, self-seeking world of ours when
chivslry and fair play are just pretty
dreams.
But even in the earliest DAYS Of the
contest there were some unions that
steadily refuted these arbitrary methods.
While others were declaring that II was
unjust to introduce women into an in
dustry that by right belonged to men.
unfair to lure women away from their
homes to compete with men, thereby re-
ducing the wage scale and demoralizing
the women themselves. and quite con
trary to the advance intelligence of the
age" there were unions where a more
tolerant spirit prevailed They said that
as workingmen. husbands, sons. brothers,
and fathers. they took a ''lively interest
in the welfare, and have the warmest
desire to advance the best interests or
females" and so they broadly resolved
TO recognize their right to ANY employ
ment for which they may be fitted" And
they admitted the justice of paying a
woman compositor just as high a rate as
a man when she was able to set as
many ems a day.
Fight Went On.
The fight went merrily on. women
working when and where they could
and accepting the wage scale youch-
safed them, not admitted to the mems
organizations and rarely welcomed any
where.