Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-09-02
widew, u Divorces. Constitute Small
Per Int Of Werksrs-Many Com
pei. "a to Assist in Support Of Hus-
bands Because Of Sickness Or
Drunkenness and Necessity.
pecial- TO Times-Republican

related to the working conditions o.
women in typical cities OF the state In
certain industries. 1t was not possible
cities divided into three groups, were
,cted.
he first inquiry related to the pro-
III ion Of women living alone and
n It, the latter meaning those cut en-
RN loose from home ties. In de-
~ aent ana other retail stores inter-
via were had with 1,19O of whom
4 1.0A or S7.S per cent, were living at
home and 145 adrift. In the first group
\ of cities-Des Moines. Sioux City.
Davenport, Dubuque. Cedar Rapids
the number was 722 to Ill. In the
second group OF cities-Ottumwa- keo-
y kuk Fort Dodge, Muscatine, Marshall
>&Nown--the number was 1856 to 20. In
N The third group-Iowa City Fort Madt-
Y son, Centerville G eston, Oalwein-the
number was 1913 to 9. In these cities the
number interviewed who were wage
earners in hotels and restaurants was
35l, and Of these "a were at home and
257 adrift.
Reason For Women Wage Farmers.
OF the total OF 1.541 women inter-
viewed 212 were either divorced or
wiao.Hs
The reasons given for women be-
coming wage earners are many. says
Mr.. Urick. "Out OF total OF 1874 mar
ricd women interviewed reasons Tor
employment were given as follows:
Six arning wages from s. to $40 per
wef..l gave as reason their desire 70
help husband get start: four with
wages from IS to $3.50 said they were
compelled to work because husband
was addicted to drink; FIVE were help
Ping husband buy Z home; twenty 1--WE
who were earning from 81 TO $50
week gave various general reasons,
seven whose wages '.ere from ~ 70
$3.50 were compelled to work because
Of sick husbands. One woman re-
ported she was compelled to work, her
husband be,- 4 the penitentiary; ana
tseyenteen earning from $3.50 to $40 per
week gave their reason for work thet
ef rather working than housekeeping.
Many Aiding in Support Of Families.
"Of girls from 4 5 to as years OF aee
fifty-three said the necessity OF the
family compelled them to work. IN
4 number OF instances the NUMBER OIL
children in the family brought about
he need. Thirty girls earning from -
Ia s12 per week were found whose
gfathery were dead and their earnings
Awere needed to support the home
PEteven girls earning from "a to ~ per
week gave as their reasons Tor work
bthat they would rather work than go
Viz school: three girls whose wages
ranged from 81 ito $3.50 per week were
compelled TO work because fathers had
deserted family, while three young
women. wages so to $12 per week,
said they were helping fathers who
we're TOO old to work and therefore
needed their assistance: and ten earn
ing from $3.50 to S12 said they were
living with and helping relatives In
need because OF sickness and other
eslses"
IN the matter Of wages among
solnen working in department ana
,ther retaS stores it Is shown the
Women living sdrift received slightly
higher wages. Out OF totai OF l'o4o
ivInr NJ home 31S, or S0.2 per cent
eceive less than IS per week. but out
Z 145 adrift ten, or per cent. receive
ess than $6 q week. OF those living at
one. z54. or PA per cent, receive
,ore than SO week. and sixty-one
wing adrift, or ~ per cent. receive
bore than SO week.
Starvation Wages.
ess,,a c.rt OF the investigation. SAYS
10, report, Drought to light more Of
nc real struggles of life. almost the
kagedies Of life Of the woman wage
amer. than the question Of wages.
Aany OF the stories related to the in
Vpector were pitiful and yet nearly
llways In spirit OF optimism-,he
Nope OF something better in the future.
Minus two girls receiving 81 per week
nd who said they knew Of Nd one
working for less than $3.50 per week
hat were. able to keep themselves
a. ere bending every energy for 2 raise
live girls adrift receiving 81 to IS
yer week. said they can not get along
WITHOUT parents help. yet were hope
&ul OF raise. Eigh. receiving IS to
ke per week had the helf Of relatives. OF
Inc entire number only nine were dcfi-
lite In their belief that low wages
.aused immortality. A very good gem
,ral complaint OF clerks was that un-
less they could carry with them line
t,f customers, they were tied 10 par
icular store because experience was
hot In eny degree taken into account.
kvhenevsr they became dissatisfied to
work for one store and changed to an
other almost Invariably they were
compelled to accept lower wages and
work mp again.
Hotel and Restaurant Employees.
III THE wages of hotel and restaurant
employees were not classified. as the
otterS heca use gof such different condl-
tionk but
Mn some Instances very strong COM
.. plaint6 wet y made because Of poor
4 and unsattssactery conditions Of rooms
fsfurnsshsd sHmpiSyes. There was aIo a
N cofnE1aint from some or the employees
N who sakxre furhished meals that these
Y rnsisisfed ~ the things left over after
n supply Ing Sridei The matter Of tips
n Is m important factor and is often
taken into account both by the propri-
| etor and the help. For instance. in
a one erestat1sant = very heated argument
took place BE tween the propri tor; who
claimed tips averaged II day for
4 each waitrS1s, And II half dozen watt
resaes who very emphaticaiiy disputed
7 the amounts The practice OF tipping Is,