The Washington times., 1915-03-01
Only Woman Member Of Cali
fornia Commission Makes
Plea for Training.
SYSTEM FOR APPRENTICES
Efficient Workers Can Only Be
Made by State Through Edu.
cationaI Course, She Asserts
By FLORENCE +. YODER.

What Ia the relation Of vocational, or
Industrial training as il Is sometimes
called, and the minimum wage laws?
There are sympathizcrs for both In
Washington. and the question OF Fed
eral action in the matter Of industrial:
training is soon coming up before tho
Government
"If the State says to the employer
You must pay a living wage to your
worker enforces a minimum wage law
lit must also provide for an adequate
apprenticeship system which will pro-
tcct the unskillcd worker from being
thrown entirely from employment. This
calls for some sort Of industrial or as
many call it vocational training. regu-
lated by the Government
Mrs Charles Farwell Edison, Of Califor-
MIA. the only woman member of the
industrial welfare commission of Cali
fornia, who Is passing through Wash
can be done to improve the efficiency of
workers. In order to regulate the mini
mum wage laws, and to fix the hours
Of labor for the California commission,
leaves no middle ground for the dis
cusston OF the necessity for industrial
education,
Call For Efficiency.
Minimum wages call for efficient
workers. and efficient workers can only
be made in all fairness. by tho State
through either an Industrial educational
system, or an apprenticeship system
which will provide for the education Of
the unskilled workers." said Mrs. Ed.
son in an interview today.
There must be-" she said "an aGe-
quate apprenticeship system, which
Will provide for tue education, the prac-
tlcal education, of the unskilled worker.
Industrial training Is absolutely ncccs-
sary.'
wherever there Is necessity for the
formation Of the minimum wa &c law"
she continued. there Is necessity for
action on the part Of the State making
such law which will provide for n fair
course of training for the unskilled
worker who, without the minimum wage.
could at least earn few dollars. But
the minimum wage calling for skilled
service would naturally exclude the un-
skilled worker and prevent his earning
anything at all. The apprentice ship
laws will circumvent this trouble"
Mrs Edison is a thoroughly sensible
woman. who knows her work--knows II
well-and whose long training in public
work Of q definitely constructive nature
has given her a poise and surety Of
thought and action not often found II,
woman She ia one OF the foremost
women of kie West, a representative Of
a type Of American who will fulfill the
promises OF national corrective work so
often held out by the advocates of wom-
an suffrage as a rather indefinite and
idealistic argument for the cause.
Troubled BY Abuse.
But will there not be All abuse Of
these apprenticeship laws" Nas the nat =
ural question which followed Mrs Ed
son laughed rather grimly and then real
ly smiled.
THAT is the very trouble against which
we stumble next she said. "One Of
the greatest dangers of the minimum
work. The employers will use this ap-
premiership law. which is made out Of
fairness to the girl who does unskilled
prentice class as long as they dare. They
will refuse to pass them on. and the child
will be caught In a blind alley As soon
as they come to the point where they
will fire them. and it will be merely a
question Of being hired and fired"
But" I interrupted. suppose the
women in industry would organize into
unions like the printers VIII not that
protect the apprentice workers. and also
Industries themselves
THAT sounds very well. indeed. and Is
very good solution said Mrs. Edison.
but while you may be able to find good
ideas you can't always work them out.
Women are learning. but as yet and for
several years the unintelligent class, the
uneducated class cannot organize.
"They can't get anything until they do.
and just because they have not this pow
er is no reason why they should be left.
through the installation OF the laws
primarily intended to assist them. to ac-
tually starve. The Government must
stand in loco PARENTS must take the
place Of the trade union. or course.