The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-09-11
What One Day Strike Of Women Throughout the u Would Mean
The Catastrophe Dsogzaion Of Modern Life and That Would Follow
fOr8O Women

high . percentage - in the cass OF the tele.
phones. yet snfncient number to throw the
busihess out Of kilter II they left their keys.
The greatest distress would be known in the
hospitals OF the country. for nursing is Q diff
cult and exactng profession that has been
turned over to women. There are 76.508 women
acting rs trained nurses today, and only 6,819
men: For these brave competent souls to stay
in the home. initiating the idleness Of the port
place for females, would mean death and do
spair for thousands.
The toll Of human suffering that would be
taken by . one-day strike does not stop with
the nurses. The census report for 1910 gives
l17,117 Is the number Of midwives and assist
ants in the United States. Hi
the poor. and that suffering is a commonplace
OF poverty. but not all the years Of habit have
been able to free the mothers Of the tenements
know that the midwives were staying in the
home. where women ought to stay. would not
prove any large amount of compensation for
In the ranks Of physicians, and SURGEONS
there are 9,01b women They. have their daily
rounds the same as male doctors. each with
ali o te
their homes. even for . day, can, It be denied
that vast amount Of wretchedness would fol.
low?
Agriculture has long been looked upon AZ
mans work. This is mistake. There are,
almost two million women working for wages
on the farms Of the United States. knowing
burning sun. They are to be seen with bent
backs In the cotton fields, creeping through
the briars and mud of cranberry bogs and
milking COWS In those cold hours before sun.
rise.
Hero again the health and lives OF babie,
comes into the picture. A one-day strike OF
women workers would smash the dairy indus
try upon which thousands of little ones are
dependent for life itself. Thousands Of cows
would go unmilked. and many q wagon would
have to start upon its rounds with cans half
filed.
Daily food is not an absolute essential to
days fast might prove a positive boon to many
OF the comfortable ladies who insist that WON.
ans place is the home.
Thousands Of families however, are always
without food would be dangerous indeed. Yet
this Is what would happen II the equal suf-
frage plan is carried out. In the bakeries Of
the United States baking bread for the mil
away from their jobs would mean that thou
sands OF homes would lack the daily loaf.
Slaughter houses, upon which many butcher
shops depend. would also know q large amount
shock to many people to learn that the "Ameri-
can queen is employed in this bloody, revolt
Ing business. but it Is the fact nevertheless.
Four thousand women earn wages in the
PEELED to watch the Draining or throat cutting
OF live stock day after day.
According to the statistics, 2,53o,S46 women
are engaged In domestic and personal service.
to do the work Of those more fortunate sisters
who have indulgent husbands. For these won.
en- to stay In the home would mean that prac.
tically every popularprice restaurant would
have to close its doors by reason of the alb.
sence of cooks and Mattresses
The range In many a kitchen would stand
cold and empty. the beds in houses and hotels
would go unmade. and dirty clothes would pile