Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-28
W0MAN'S INDUSTRIAL STATUS
Prof. Groat Discusses Subject
before Equal Franchise League.
ineReasing Number of Women Wage
Farmers Makes Conditions under
which They Work and Their
Wages All-ImpOrtant.

Prof G. G. Groat addressed the Equal
Fran ohise League at the parlors OF the
Hotel Vermont Tuesday evening on the
subject Of THE Changing Industrial Stat
us Of Women" and thereby afforded
| pleasant and profitable evening to the
large number present The meeting was
held under the auspices Of the leagues
| education committee.
Previous to the address of Professor
Groat 1t was suggested that the league
become member of the Womens Peace
Party, which was recently organized
under national auspices at Washington
The league will probably vote on this
subject favorably at the next meeting
In prefacing his remarks Professor
Groat said that II was apparent to all
that women had always worked and In
fact had done too much of the worlds
work, II anything. The discussion of the
question at hand was of those women
who were engaged as wage earners. A
mistaken notion Of late years Is that
the influx of women wage earners into
the various occupations Is something
new and that the discussion of the ques-
ton is novel Such, the speaker pointed
put was not true. Many of the COM
nents are based on the statement Of
Harriet Nartineau, the English writer
who on a brief visit to this country In
s36 wrote that only eight occupati S
we're open to women. Inquiry shows that
n 1920 there were 70 occupations open to
women which increased by ten in the
next ten years and equalled, according
o Miss Abbott, 100 in 1870 The census
Pf 1850 showed that there were women
Engaged in 175 occupations. Quoting
rom statistics of the federal bureau of
Rbor, Professor Groat stated that in 1870
here were 100000 women wage earners
the United States and in 1900 there
we're something over 100000 the in
rease in the thirty years from 10 per
emit Of all the women to 20 per cent.
1900 there was shown to be q falling
n in the percentage of women engaged
agriculture and domestic service |
lille there had been gains In the num-
ers in professional life. manufactures |
rades and transportation. In the last ten
fifteen years the gains have been
lrger In certain professions and occupa- (
ons than during any other corre- |
bonding period in the country's history |
he latest figures show that Of the 20
er cent Of women engaged in gainful I
Occupations more are so occupied in the
ng AZ high as "a per cent in the
tlantic States and as low as IS per
Pit. in the western States. Three per
pnt. Of married women. 80 per cent Of
e widows. Al per cent. Of unmarried
omen and IS per cent. Of the divorced
omen are wage earners.
There is no reason to believe that the
eat influx of women in wage earning
pacities will decrease in the future
here are several reasons why the condi-
pn exists. One Ia the SUBJ division Of
Dor. Articles like shoes, for instance.
at formerly were the work of one per-
n. are now made by many. There are
er 12o operations a single pair of
pes, none Of them requiring a great de-
Pc OF experiences. The Introduction of |
lchinery 10 another factor. Machines
so simpli1ed that a woman. unskilled.
run them and in many instances bet
than man. Strikes and the introduce
OF ke-breakers have added women
the list OF workers. Industrial depres-
ms have swelled the number encourag.
the employment Of cheaper labor.
hrs too have had their part Before the
III War the clerk was usually a man.
W the average clerk Is a woman An
rease of widows who must work to
port the family and themselves, also
Tres in bringing about the condition
3D. Industrial accident and disea Sc
m avoidable causes have increased the
nber Of widows.
he question to be considered, Professor
pat said. after It has become apparent
so many women are employed and
their numbers will not decrea Sc re-
yes Itself into one OF concern as to
conditions under which they work
the wages they receive. He spoke of
$1,000 women engaged in this coun-
in the tobacco business and how one
Of every four is suffering from some
Ease incident to the occupation. He
Of the great nervous strain to |
oh the half million or more women
Faged in the clothing business are
5ected daily, and of how so per
I. Of the quarter million In the tex
business have tuberculosis He
ID the fact Of the tremendous strain
the 10000 women engaged in the
ming business where long hours in
canning season were necessary.