East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-07-22
SUFFRAGETfES LOOK
AFTER WAR BABIES
INSTEAD OF VOTING
MRS. PANKHURsT AND FOLLOW.
ERS TAKE PRACTICAL STEPS
FOR SOLUTION PROBLEM.
Workers Find II Necessary Also 10
Look out for Improved Conditions
for Mothers - Suffrage Quarters
Turned Into Agency for war Relief.


LONDON, July l2.-(By Mail TO
Omitted Press staff Correspondent J
New York while bishops and leg
islators and professional phlanthro-
pists are discussing what should be
done about the war babies" the
problem has been tackled in practi-
cal fashion by sylvia Pankhurst and
her formerly unterrified band Of
East London suffragettes
Already "war babies" have begun
10 arrive in this section Of the me-
tropolis by the hundreds, many Of
them the children OF unmarried
wives" of soldiers now serving their
country in Flanders or the Dardan-
elles. So far as possible these chill
dren and their mothers are being
cared for by the women whose prin-
cipal activities a year ago were smash.
ing windows Sylvia and her CO.
workers started their war relief work
In the East End almost Immediately
after hostilities opened.
when the war broke out, said
Miss Pankhurst today, "the offices Of
the East London Federation of Suf-
fragettes were about to take a brief
vacation after a period of very siren
uous work, but the war cancelled all
arrangements, and our labors were
at once increased tenfold Soldiers
wives, soldiers mothers, and women
a.. % aIr,4~ araF q M a
flocking to us and crowded our Off
ces in a constant stream. We opened
distress bureaus in Bow, Bromley,
Poplar and later in Canning Town.
Here we made, and still make it our
business to secure as quickly as pos
sible from the various agencies con-
cerned separation allowances anu
pensions for soldiers and sailors de-
pendants, work or relief for the un-
employed, and higher relief necessi-
ties by war prices for those already
assisted under the Poor Law.
within three days Of the outbreak
Of war We started a free milk depot
for babies who were brought to us
| often literally at their last gasp foI
lack of the mothers milk that had
ceased because Of her privations, OF
the cows milk that there was nc
money to buy Doctoring and nurs-
ing care were imperative, and soor
our free milk centers had developed
i into regular mother-and- baby clinics
These undoubtedly have been th'
means Of saving hundreds Of baby
lives which in this time of slaughter
on the battlefields are of even more
vital importance to the nation thar
before.
But we found it impossible merel.
to supply milk to the baby when the
whole family was needing food. We
decided to attach to our centers cheaI
restaurants, where grown-up people
esnecially expectant ant nursins
/ mothers, might buy two-course meals
| for cents and children could buy
the same for two cents, and where
we could supply free meals wherever
| Il seemed advisable These We call
cost price restaurants, although OF
/ course. they are not self-supporting
and never can be with food and fuel
at war prices. We chose the name
because We wanted one that should
not suggest charity.
THE pressing cry Of workless wom-
en- was for employment We found
work for as many as we could in our
notwithstanding cleaning, watt
ing, washing up, and making jams
from the presents of fruit which our
friends most generously sent to US
during the summer and fall To the
women employed in our restaurants
we pay ten cents an hour. At the
same time We started giving out sew
ing for women to do al home, and We
also took in some workers on our
own premises. paying to every adult
worker a minimum OF ten cents an
hour. or IS a week.
Then We extended the employ
ment section and opened a factory for
the making of garments, boots and
shoes. and toys"
Aside from these activities, Sylvia
and her followers have been uneeas-
ing in their efforts to secure from
the government better working eondi-
tions for women. They have made
repeated efforts to secure from the
government better working conditions
for women. They have made re-
peated visits to the war office and
other government departments to
urge that adult women should not be
employed for less than ten cents an
hour on army contracts OF other work
subsidized by public funds.
And in the meantime she add
ed, I'VE are continuing our work Of
education and preparation for Votes
for Women: for every day makes It
more and more apparent that wom-
ems help as enfranchised citizens is
needed to do the nations work.