United labor bulletin., 1914-04-11


of a minimum wage for women and girls
is a matter OF intense interest to every
retailer throughout the country. The
dry goods and department stores are
among the largest employers OF such
labor. Moreover, this class OF labor be-.
ing wholly unorganizcd, the initiative
towards change must come either from
the employers themselves or through
legislation. Toward legislation in one
form or another the current II now set
ting. and very strongly.
Business men are proverbially aver-e
10 government dictation of their affairs
in any particular II is essential. how
ever, to recognize the fact that govern
ment interference" as some term IL,
L. real development OF the present day
and one that cannot be averted The
best course for every retailer. a. for
every other business man, is to realize
the new tendencies aud to gracefully ae-
eep,-and. better still. anticipate-the
inevitable.
Nearly eight months ago the Retail
Dry Goods Merchants Association OF Los
Angeles went ON record as being in IA
Nor OF the minimum wage legislation adj
Nocated by the present administration
Personally | cannot for the life OF
me see how the enactment of minimum
wage legislation will have any serious
effect on the retailers' interests. Any
increase in selling expense viii be borne
by the consumer. Moreover, II all mer-
chants in center are compelled to pay
the same minimum wage they are all
placed ON AN equal footing.
There are many merchants who say
they would h. glad TO pay their girls
higher wages II they were not prevent
81 BY competition The establishment
Of a minimum wage. compulsory ON all
concerns in the same industry. will at
ones remove that obstacle
That the wages Of women iu many
branches uf industry department
stores. 0fiicc- or factories-afc made
quate T. an opinion held By many If not
most of those who have given the great.
e.t study 20 this question.
Herein lcs problem az least quar-
ter OF century old. but which has be-
come increasingly acute within the past
decade. This We must face when con-
-iiering the wage phase Of the depart
meut store problem.
To this end what more sweeping and
more effective step could be taken than
due care for the mothers OF new genera
tionsf Such movement. viewed either
IN the narfowcsi or ia the broadcst
light, IL both philanthropic and patri.
o,ic. II is conservation on the highest;
plane.
Fair treatment ia the stare, cheap
lunches. comfortable rest rooms and
other forms Of welfare work are praise
worthy. They do honor 10 the mer-
chants who provide them. But what
ar. they in comparison with a fair, liv-
ING wagci
t;irIs who arc graduated from the pub.
lie schools arr. MANY Of them, not worth
one cen; more than - week in IN
iustry. There j. little nse trying to
lcgi.latr tina, these girls who are worth
only s. should b. paid $50. The thing
TO do Is 60 make them wo-th $40. Edu-
cate these girls: have vocational guild
anee. find out what they arc fitted 20
do. and theu train them 10 do il eff.
eicntiy,
Every young. capable. vigorous
woman IN good health Is worth Slo a
week II she il properly educated. Mer-
chants of every city have il in their
power TO offset the higher wages they
would have TO pay inexperienced help by
compelling or inducing their local school
hoard to provide classes for instruction
In .alssmanship.
One more thing ! wish 10 dwell on
the relation of morals and ways Some
times Il Is difficult 10 refuie Islander
without at the same time giYing II wide
circulation and, unfortunately. therc are
a great many minds OF the type which
prefer to believe an evil insinuation
rather than an authoritative rcfutation