The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-09

women in its staff. While MANY of
the chiefs of bureaus speak enthusi-
astically of the efficiency and faith
fulness of the women who work un-
der them, others claim that women
are more apt to be unwilling to work
overtime than men and are less will
ing to make their W plans sub
servient to the good of the work. This
statement undoubtedly applies most to
the women in the lower salaried posi-
tions.
The women of special attachments
who are upon the government pay roll
include literary and scientific women
of numerous callings. A large amount
of the editorial work connected with
the publication of government reports
is done by Women Miss Ethel smith
of he bureau of fisheries, while act
ing as secretary to the commissioners,
is recognized for her scientific knoWl-
edge upon general piscatorial matters
and also for an unusual amount of
literary talent hich helps her to
place this knowledge in a form which
the public can appreciate. Several of
the special census reports, especially
those referring to women and children
and domestic conditions had descrip-
tive matter written by women writer's
employed for that purpose.
The departments of and
labor rely greatly upon the women
economists in their. employ to make
research upon industrial conditions.
One of the best known of these is
Miss Marie I. Obenhauer who, as spe-
cial agent, has published reports upon
wage-earning in stores and
factories which are of great sociologi-
cal value because of the detailed in
formation they give regarding all the
conditions of these classes of women
workers. Their wages, their living
conditions, social environment and
possibilities are all depicted in so vivid
a n as to have great influence
in determining the needs to be re-
lieved. Miss Obenhauer also has pub
lished reports Upon the conditions
governing child labor in several states
and a number of specified industries.
She has several assistants, all bright.
young college m who have had
special training in economics at we'll
known colleges to qualify them for
their work.
A number of women teachers are
employed under the United States
government in the Indian schools here,
in Porto Rico, in the canal zone, in the
Philippines and in Alaska. Each of
these required some specific quality in
addition to the established standards
of pedagogical ability which would be
required in the regular public schools
of the different states. It is COM
monty accepted that the American
public school must follow the flag and
wherever the public school becomes
established the need of the American
woman teacher is at once recognized.
Frequently women are called upon
to render some special service to the
government. When the dissatisfac-
ton of the employees of the Panama
one threatened the completion !
the canal, President Taft appointed
Miss Helen Varick Boswell to go down
and establish better social relations.
Miss Boswells chief effort was the
establishment of a federation of
clubs, but her efforts were
in quelling the discomfort
and creating a better social at
mosphere. Now Miss ]. Macklin
Beatie is retained upon the canal zone
pay roll to still further the
social life upon the zone, as this helps
to make the Americans more cOntented
during their exile from their W land.
Women's work in the Indian service
has been of especial value. No man
had greater influence in establishing
peaceful relations than did Miss Els
telle Reel who, for a number Of years,
went freely among them, often Sleep
at night in their WigWams. Now
of the educated Indian women
are employed by the American gov
to aid in promoting better
among the Indians. Miss
Angel De Cora, a young Indian girl
who displayed great artistic talent and
at Drexel institute in Phila-
delphia, in addition to being a pupil
Of the late Howard Pyle, is now teach
Ing the Indian women of Arizona II
New Mexico to improve their pottery
detracting from it's native
characteristics. In the Indian depart
nent in Washington the daughter of
an indian chief is an adjuster of
claims and thereby has a great in
in securing justice for her own
people from the government whose
wards they now are.
The employment Of women by the
government began at the time of the
civil war and was brought about by
TWO conditions: One was that the en-
of so many men as soldiers
LETT in the clerical forces
Which women were capable of filling;
The other was that the loss of the sup
port of the men who were killed and
wounded in battle rendered it neces-
5ary for hundreds of women promptly
to seek some means Of providing for
n the families dependent
lpon them. The government, for
Which these men had sacrificed their
ives, naturally felt responsible for the
care of their families and was anxious
to give employment to the women.
These women, who in most cases had
had little or no business training,
were placed in positions calling for
both. They met their new obligations
SO we'll that they opened up a new
venue of occupation which thousands
of women have entered upon since
hen and nj tho az, t;~,, L,,, o11,J