The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-07-30
WOMAN COMING
into HER OWN
Has Learned to Brush Aside
Fiction and Recognize Facts.
FOR INDUSTRIAL FREEDOM.


to Economic Organization For Pro-
tection-The Trade Union Movement
Offers the Opportunity.
There are two tremendous move
ments for freedom at the present time
the labor movement and the woman
movement. The union of these two
movements found expression in the
fifth biennial convention of the Wom-
ems Trade Union league held in New
York city during the month of June
That convention Of representatives of
wage earning women was visible proof
Of the ability of women to determine
and manage their own affairs and to
appreciate and assume responsibility
as members of society. Not only do
they assume responsibility, but they
demand rights that go with response
bility.
AS result of former conditions, tra-
ditions and customs, protection and
support have been assumed for all wo-
men. This fiction was maintained
even though women went out Of their
homes to earn a living in shop, factory
or store. Some women have learned to
break through stultifying tradition to
brush aside fiction and to recognize
facts-they have learned that free in
diyidual must stand erect, be response
bic for her own life and acts, give and
accept Justice, not special privilege
If women would be free they must
achieve their own freedom
Wage earning women have begun to
work out their own industrial freedom
AS the president Of the Women's Trade
Union league pointed out in her bien-
nial address, there are now two great
groups of exploited workers In the
United States immigrants and women
But women have felt the thrill of the
impulse that leads to freedom; in all
the walks of life they are demanding
an equal voice in determining those
things which touch the common life.
This impulse stimulates protest against
Industrial exploitation Strong women
who earn their living in the struggle
of the world feel that this protection
and salvation lie in organization.
Women work in industry side by side
with men. Their relations TO industry
and their relation to employers contain
no elements different from those of
mems relations. Industrial protection
and industrial betterment with free
dom involve no elements that differ
from the problems Of men. Economic
organization IS the hope of all.
The discussions and addresses at the
New York convention indicate that
women realize they cannot establish
and maintain industrial freedom and
responsibility unless they also have po-
litical freedom and responsibility.
Wherever opportunity and develop
ment are restricted their influence and
power are also restricted. Women can
not assume equal rights with free men
in the Industrial struggle while classi-
fed with idiots and irresponsibles in
political affairs.
AS matter of justice working wom-
en- demand the ballot They demand the
right TO participate in the determina-
tions of political affairs because they
are affected by those determinations.
The ballot cannot long be denied them.
The ballot will bring power, because it
will bring full citizenship.
But industrial freedom must be
fought out on the industrial field. 1t
will be achieved when wage earning
women hold in their own hands the
right and the power to participate In
determining the conditions under
which they shall work and the wages
they shall receive. They can delegate
this power and responsibility to no out
side authority If they wish industrial
freedom.
There is no easy way, but If anything
in life is worth while it is the beautiful
ideal of q rational individual ordering
his or her own life in full acceptation
of the opportunities and the limitations
Of freedom. Protection and regulation
may offer immediate relief, but they
are not freedom.
Industrial freedom is not a sex prob
lem; 1t is human problem. The same
principles apply to men and women
alike.
The ayowed object of the Women's
Trade Union league is to promote
among women wage earners organiza-
fion into trade unions affiliated to the
American Federation Of Labor. It is q
movement that has a tremendous op-
portunity and promise. Because 1t has
opportunity and promise 1t is confront
ed by dangers and pitfalls and must
protect itself against attempts to domi
nate 1t and use it for other purposes.
The trade union movement is the
movement that offers women the op-
portunity to secure freedom as we'll as
industrial protection.
The recent convention ought to put
new life into efforts to organize women
into trade unions to increase wages
and better conditions, and this problem
of organizing women cannot be sep
arated from the problem of organizing
men. Men must join the women In
or else they viii find women used
against them as competitors.-Am
can Federationist.