The Washington times., 1914-08-29
By MISS LAURA J. GRADDICK.

az OF lH6 W0Se-e0IHLHS bOHtu'
By MISS LAU
The militarism of the past. with
its compulsory corporation, has
been gradually superseded by indus
trfalism. with its voluntary cooper
alton, so that the organized labor
movement is but a natural express
sion Of this modern life movement.
The two great forces of this In
dustrial Age, capital and labor,
have made new conditions and new
problems. many of which are not
satisfactory; hence, thoughtful men
and women have been interested and
are lending their efforts toward i'm
provement. Labor. long ago, saw
that industrial conditions were far
from being ideal. and, in an effort to
improve them. formed the trade
union. which is, indeed. one OF the
great forces Of modern society.
AS an institution. trades unionism
may not be ideal. but 1T was born
to serve a purpose in the upward
march of the human race" Some
idea concerning the great work II
has done toward improving indus
trial conditions may he formed from
g statement by an American lawyer
Women In Mines.
He says, 1t was not long ago that
q large part Of the coal Of England
was mined b. women; they were
hsrnessed to coal cars. deep down IN
the earth. and on their hands and
knees drew coal from the darkness
up to a point where they were re-
heved by mules.
IT was not long ago that working
mems little children. from eight
years of age, were placed IN lhese
dark mines with their fathers ana
mothers: were pcnned in the con-
slant wfirr and din of the spinning
wheels of England for ten. twelve.
and even fourteen hours I day ana
II IS due 20 the trades un.pnlstS OF
England that these inhuman conol-
tons are gone forever, Gone, hoI
for his wife and child alone. but Tor
every workinEman's wife. for every
child in the kingdom.
Through the long persistent eHorIs
Of organized labor, America. too, mas
accomplished much in the way oi
protective laws for her workers.
But the leaders in this movement
have seen that woman is such
factor in the Industrial world that
she should become a part OF the Or
eanizetion.
Women Awaking.
Unfortunately. labor organizations
are not popular with the average
American waEe-earning woman Or
CARNATIONS growing out Of war she
regards as highly patriotic, an6 as
such enjoys the honor of member
ship. She viii admit that organized
labor agitation has brought about
child-labor laws. has given her =
shorter workG4y. better pay. and
improved CONDITIONS. yet she seems
Indifferent 10 its avenues of service.
Gradually. now ever. she IS coming
more and more to appreciate the op-
portunitv this organization affords
her. not only for self-help. but for
furthering the interests Of the other
woman. and she is today identified
with some Of the leading interna-
uonal labor orga nizations.
The international Brotherhood Of
Bookbinders. while not the first to
organize women. long ago began the
formation Of UDT" nc locals ont Of
its 9i locals. women are found in
torty-flVe. one with a membership of
I.5h0 women.
Members Interests Protected.
The Woman's Bindery Union. Local
No =. is one Of the Oldest labor or
ganizations for women in this citv.
and IL was one of the first clubs 70
affiliate with the Federation o. Woro-
en Clubs. December next il will he
twenty years old While only s:x-v-
eight women from the Government
L-Hv sE-r, "a L
thls local. IL is interesting n note
that during these years 300 women
nav" repeated the clubs Obligations
and signed its constitution.
! h object Of the organization is
TO maintain a Uniform rate Of wages
and take cogniZanCe Of such matters
as may affect the interests Of its
membership in the trade within the
District OF Columbia That the
members might realize the need for
serious thought in the work. the club
fourteen years ago adopted the plan
OF opening its meetings with prayer.
In 1902 some of the bindery women
in the private shops Of the city
toined the union, which number has
gradually Increased TO more than
I'M from the outside shops. A that
time most Of them were working
nine and ten hours a day for So. $50,
and 81 per week
Secured Saturday Half Holiday.
The women of tine Government
Printing Office. through the general
agitation Of organized labor. have
long enjoyed the eight-hour day A
minimum wage. and good sanitary
conditions. In 1907 the union inaug-
urated the eight-hour day with a
minimum wage of $50 for the wom-
en- in the private binderies Of the city.
The scale also provided for extra
pay for overtime work, holidays, and
Sundays, should the emergencies OF
the shop require such.
The first president of the club, with
representatives from the mems
unions. waited upon the President of
the United States and together OBJ
tanned the Saturday half-holiday for
employees Of the Government Print
ing Office Members of the club
have been before Congressional com
mittees relative to the increase of
women's wages, woman suffrage. the
pensioning of Government employees.
and have sent letters and resolutions