Omaha daily bee., 1915-06-18


When money was made medium OF
exchange and barter ceased, the business
world had a new dignity. But a great
loss occurred which was not noticed. The
mothers wisdom. derived from her ex-
perience in her administration in bust
ness, government and teaching, was not
utilized in business
The mother was at home. Business was
downtown" and operated by men.
Men in the business world receive
honey for their labor from the produc-
ton of wealth.
Money is the counter of power.
Money gives a degree of freedom.
People VINO serve and receive cornpen-
satton for. ii are comparatively indie
pendent. They may como and go. make
decisions. purchase. refuse to purchase,
buy, SELL +
We pay the. president Of the United
states $4,000 year that he may be in
dependent and have freedom of action.
clergymdn, whose work is TO teach
us q finer sinse of Justice than govern
ment can. would have no claim upon our
respect were he a pauper.
The teacher to whom we send our
children for one-half their waking hours
could not be respected by the children
were she dependent upon the mood. good
will and general kindness of the parents
CT the children whom che teaches
Everybody feels the advantage of hav-
ing this medium of exchange called
money, which gives a large degree Of
independence.
People who are choosing occupations
usually favor that which will bring the
most money.
The modern human being wants money!
money in his pocket, money in his hand,
money in the bank money to give him
Independence, money that he may have
exercise for his will and brain. And all
people who labor in the great work OF
civilization receive money.
All-except mothers.
- People have been greatly exercised be-
cause the birth rate in some localities
has not equaled t he death rate. And
there is reason, although the business
world has not yet taken cognizance of 1t.
For the last twenty-five years women
have been allowed in the business world
and have become a factor there.
Today women may choose their life
work with almost as much freedom as
men. And because wives and mothers
are shut out from economic independ-
enoe young women are choosing theft
life work carefully.
AS society is now organized a woman
loses her economic independence when
she gives her services for twenty-five or
thirty years TO the bearing and care OF
citizens for the state.
Garner. II he is generously inclined, 81 he
is unusually wise and sees how important
is his wife's business. II misfortune does
not, oVeTtake him, then ,his wife may
have sufficient means to develop and
give TO the state a family and live hap
PLY while doing IT. And II fortune stin
smiles, the ten, twenty or thirty years Of
ltf4 which are hers. after her children
are grown, may be useful and happy.
But these ifs make 80 tremendous a
load Of conditions that thinking women
pause and think carefully before they
say yea"
The Conditions in the homes OF the
poor should determine for us whether
mothers should be as sure Of means with
which TO do their work as teachers,
preachers and other state municipal or
society employees
II we consider the business of the
world as a unit, it would cost no more to
give wages 10 mothers than It costs US
now to maintain the Job lot" that the
state has 70 care for.
And then we might be able to eliminate
the army OF the unemployable, now
ranged on park benches. IN bread lines,
penitentiaries. hospitals. insane asyiuns
houses of correction, houses for the i'm
beetles, or blind.
Would not q mother have greater In
eentive for mental activity Would not
even an average mother carry RESPONSE
bnity as did the Roman women VINO
were conscious that they were the great
es' benefactors OF the sta.s2
Would not the home be a more beauti-
fui place If mothers had the power and
stimulus which men have. Of wages for
theiF work: