The Washington times., 1915-05-31
WOMEN GET MEMS
JOBS IN ENGLAND
They Are Fastening Grip Of
Steel on Economic Situation
and Will Stick Until End.

Women in Great Britain who were
throwing stones at the heads as we'll
as the houses of cabinet ministers last
year are today quietly-somewhat
notwithstanding out different cam
paign.
The government, in It's anxious desire
to obtain recruits for the army. issued
a call a few weeks ago for women to
register their willingness to do the work
of men in the usual masculine occupa-
tions in order to- release the men who
could enlist There was a response of
1000 women before May 1, with every
indication that the number would be
steadily increased.
The suffrage leaders are cooperating
with the government, in persuading
women to subscribe their names upon
the books OF the labor exchanges for
the board OF trade to call them to work.
The suffrage leaders are mild and pleas
ant. They talk a great deal of patriot
ism and little Of the vote. But It is a
grip of steel which they are fastening
upon the situation. And they don't in
tend to let go when the war Is over.
Collect Railway Ticekts.
Travellers in London leaving Pad
dington station and Euston station have
their tickets collected by young women,
dressed simply and with nothing to dis
tinguish them from the passengers be-
yond the brassard on the left arm car
rying the initials oftthe railroad COM
pany over the words Ticket Collec-
tor" The Great Central railway has
| introduced women cleaners into the car
rage sheds connected with the Maryle-
| bono terminus in London, employing
| some forty of them. wearing also the
official badge In a brassard on the left
arm. Two women porters are employed
| at the Marylebone station.
The Glasgow Corporation. after a
trial with a few female car con-
ductors, has decided to instruct the
managers to engage women whenever
men fiocking to the colors Nearly four
hundred women will be required, re-
ceiving a service uniform and a weekly
wage Of 1915. considerably less than
| In Yorkshire women are beginning to
carry the mail. one OF them covering
| daily a delivery round OF about fifteen
miles. In Wales the idea of replacing
| all the men employees with women Is
| spreading as agreeable because of eco
| nomical Innovation.
| In Birmingham some Of the large
military saddlers have opened schools
| for the training of women who are now
ready to take the places Of men in the
leather trades. The war office has just
| issued a circular that men in such oc-
cupations will be allowed to enlist in
the army. Recruiting officers had
hitherto received instructions not to en-
list them, as their work in filling army
contracts ives equally important.
Refused Taxi Licenses.
Women taxicab drivers for London
have not yet been allowed. the homa
secretary refusing up the present time
to give them licenses. But Sir Henry
Norman. NJ. p, Is urging the matte:
in the commons. saying that women ap-
| plicants for licenses are prepared to
pass the usual police examinations But
one Of the largest dry goods firms Of
London has engaged women as drivers
Of motor vans for their London and
country rounds. as we'll as women por-
ters to accompany the vans.
Laundry vans are also being run by
women in London. elevators in apart
ment houses and hotels are operated
have been almost entirely turned over
to them. They serve as assistants in
grocery shops and delivery clerks: In
the storerooms Of the National Food
which provides for the Belgian refugees,
all the butchers work is done by women
in cutting up the meat sent by Aus
tralia. New Zealand, Canada, and Ar
gentlna- Here the laDor Is chaf1ty con-
tribution by well-to-do women, which
forms a grievance to, organized labor
In the north Of England. Scotland
and wales the masculine agricultural
laborers are being supplanted BY wom-
en-. who can be seen following tho bar
row. or digging in the ground to keep
the growing seed in good condition.
According to the last census the NUM-
q. ber OF women and girls In Great Britain
of ten years and upward was:
Engaged in occupations...... 4,s8o.14
Retired or unoccupied. ....... 10,08,Ne
or these $685., OPS were unmarried
= $50. 2S4 were married. and 1884 ,So4 were
widowed. OF the unmarried, S,E2, 40
were "unoccupied."