The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-06
MAN-POLITICIAN
TAKEN To TASK
Sufragist Organ Says Women
Do Not Get Share Of Cow
eminent Honors.
SAYS UNCLE SAM UNFAIR
Lucy Burns Says Women Are Dis
eliminated Against in APP
pointments.

The Suffragist, the organ Of the Con-
gressional Union for Woman Suffrage.
in its issue of this week. takes man
square deal in parceiling out govern
ment honors. The great difference in the
treatment of male and female applicants
for civil service positions Is the theme
of the Suffragist.
"The fundamental need Of women the
country over for the passage Of the pro-
posed Federal amendment to the Con-
stitution, forbidding Acknowledgement on
the ground of sex. IL illustrated by the
manner in which women are eliminated
by men to make places for members Of
their own SEX" said Miss Lucy Burns
editor Of the Suffrsgist. Before the
United States Commission on Industrial
Relations Mrs. Crystal Eastman Bene-
dict, one Of the best-inforrned women
on economical questions in this coun-
try. went to the root of the question of
discrimination in favor Of men and
against women in industry by pointing
out first, the inequalities practiced even
in the government service. for which men
and women alike must pass civil service
examinations. Mrs. Benedict argued that
II the government sets a standard that
women's work is Of less value than mems.
1t Is no wonder that private industry fol-
lows that standard.
Wants q Square Deal.
THE country at large is beginning to
realize the disadvantages against which
women are forced to contend from the
hour in which they apply for examina-
lions to the end of their service under
the United States government. There are
determinations all along the line; woman
is not given a square deal That is what
we are fighting fora square deal. plain.
and simple Justice, and We will not get
it until We secure a Federal amendment
removing the qualification of sex from
the ballot"
Miss Burns cited facts and figures
to support her claim that Uncle Sam
is not fair to his women citizens. She
pointed out that the census of 1919
showed that in postoffices in cities
$4,000 or more in population in the
United States there were 1.s4s male
clerks and twelve female clerks. Such
a contrast proves conclusively., she
said. that opportunity is not equal be-
tween the sexes in these offices. The
examinations are conducted by men
under rules provided by men. Then it
is especially provided that femininity
may be held a bar to service in almost
every department of governmental ac-
tivity. Color is not to be a bar; but
no female can get a job in the average
position unless the particu-
lar boss in charge wants a woman.
Thus, said Miss Burns. any woman
who holds such a job does not have to
thank the government for her job. like
the man clerk. but generally she is
under obligation to some man for
the sex bar. She said that
salaries of men and women are not
equal Women invariably are paid a
lower salary. especially in government
service.
Advertisement Is Cited.
Miss Burns cited the following ad-
vertisement of the Civil Service Com
mission to show the discrimination
against women:
"'Sec. 276. Stenographers and type
ing to accept the usual salaries Offer
ed omen, 5000; women $720) have
much greater prospects for appoint
ment than applicants for other cler-
ical positions. The supply of males
eligible and willing to accept the
usual entrance salary is not equal to
the demand
so we see a discrimination as to
amount of salary as well as to sex
many eXaminatlons are not open 10
women. though they may be qualified
to do the work"
Miss Burns contends that men and
women should go in on civil service
examinations on an equal footing.
compilation of figures shows. said
Miss Burns. that during the fiscal year
1912, for positions in the departments
at Washington, 1859 men and ISIS
women were examined. of whom 1851
men and LAG women passed.
OF these successful applicants for
examination, $50 men and 121 women
were appointed. In other words. of
the men examined, 81 per cent passed.
and % per cent were appointed; of
the women examined, a. per cent
passed. and only 10La per cent were