New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-23
GIVE WOMEN FAIR
CHANCE, IS PLEA
Ruling on Positions in
State Employment Blu
reau CenSured.

The Conference on Unemployment
Among Women. 95 Madison av., yester-
day made a protest against the recent
action OF the committee of the State
Civil Service Commission in excluding
women from the examinations for the
positions Of director and superintend-
cnts of the new State Bureau of En-
ployment Tie conference asserts that
the action is illogical and submits sew
eIal reasons for its belief.
The protest was addressed to the
commission in Albany and was signed
by Cornelia Bryce, vicc-chairman Of
the conference. The organization is
composed of prominent women in New
York who are trying to meet the prob
lem of unemployment among women
and transfer to the government the re
sponsibi!ty for the exchange Of labor.
The illogical" attitude OF the Com
missions action is defined as such by
the conference foI the following reas-
ems, as stated in the letter of protest:
"1he situation which the new bureau
is intended to cope with is undoubtedly
as significant TO women as it Is to men.
Fully one-third of the wage earners of
the state are women. Women are par
ticularly subject to unemployment be-
cause they are excluded from many
occupations, as a large number Of the
trades in which they are engaged are
known as seasonal, or casual, and be-
cause less opportunity is given to wom-
en- for apprenticeship and for voca-
tional and industrial training. More
over the social results of unemploy-
ment are especially serious for women.
THE matter of dealing with employ
ment considered merely az a business
has additionally been considered as a
work open to women.
The increasing participation of
women in social and industrial life
has increasingly been recognized by
the State of New York in opening its
appointments to women.
an view of these facts we respect
fully request you to reconsider the
action you have taken and declare
these positions in the Bureau of En-
ployment open TO women"
Miss Bryce, who is also chairman OF
the employment committee of the con
ference. had this to add to her letter
Of protest yesterday:
"NO social or economic change Of the
last fifty years has been more radical
than that relating TO the employment
OF women. Inc entire working force
of certain trades is recruited from
women and girls.
women are really as much con-
cerned as men in the problem Of uEem-
ployment" continued Miss Bryce.
"Thcy are thrown out Of work as well
as men when mills close and stores
dismiss a third Of their employees.
Even the emergency provisions that
ere made are adapted only to men. The
usual relief measures are snow shovel
ing or some sort Of construction or
grading work-Or the rock pile or wood
pile. This winter the Municipal En-
ployment Bureau showed utter disre-
gard for women's wants or needs; only
for men did it attempt to find work"
The officers of the conference are
Mrs. Peter Cooper Hewitt, chairman;
Miss Frances A. Kellor and Miss Cor
nelia Bryce. ice-chairmen; Miss Anna
V s. Mitchell. secretary; Mrs. j. Ser
gcant Cram. treasurer; Mrs, Helen
Hartley jenkins, chairman finance com
mittee, Mrs Ralph Ellis, chairman
membership committee. and Mrs. II. S.
y. Beaie, chairman legislative commit
tee.