The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-09-11
What One Day Strike Of Women Throughout the u Would Mean
The Catastrophe DISCRIMINATION of Modern Life and That Would Follow Twenu
Home Where Working

high a percentage as in the case Of the teie-
phones, yet sufficient number to throw the
business out OF klter IL they left their keys
The greatest distress would be known in the
hospitals OF the country. for nursing Is a diff
cult and exacting profession that has been
turned over 10 women. There are 76 SOS women
acting as trained nurses to-day. and only 5,S19
men. For these brave, competent souls TO stay
in the home. initiating the idleness OF the port
ly ladies' who tell them that IL is the proper
place" for females. would mean death aud de-
spair for thousands.
The toll OF human suffering that would be
taken by a one-day strike does not stop with
the nurses. The census report for 1910 gives
ll7,1t7 as the number OF midwives and assist
ants in the United States.
IL is true that they operate largely among
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
from the pains and periis OF childbirth To
know that the mdwives wore staying in the
home where women ought 10 stay. would not
prove any large amount of compensation for
hours Of agony OF the loss of babe
In the ranks OF physicians and surgeons
there are 9,0l5 women They have their daily
rounds the same as male doctors each with
a clientele dependent upon her for recovery
their homes, even for a day. IL be denied
that vast amount OF wretehedness would fol-
low?
Agriculture has long been looked tpon as
mans work. This is a mistake. There are
almost two million women working for wages
on the farms OF the United States. knowing
IA
burning sun. They are 10 be seen with bent
backs In the cotton fields. creeping through
the briars and mud OF cranberry boys, and
milking cows in those cold hours before sun
rise.
Here again the health and lives OF babies
comes into the picture. 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 unmiked. and many a wagon would
have to start upon its rounds with cans half
filed
Daily food is not an absolute essential to
those who make a business of gorging. A one
days fast might prove positive boon to many
OF the comfortable ladies' who insist that wom-
ans place is the home.
Thousands OF families. however. are always
so close to the edge OF starvation that a day
without food would be dangerous indeed. Yet
this is what would happen IL the equal suf-
frage plan is carried out. In the bakeries OF
the United States. baking bread for the mil
lions, are over IL. 900 women. and TO take them
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 a large amount
OF interference. IL will doubtless come as
shock TO many people to learn that the "Ameri-
can queen" Is employed in this bloody. revolt
ing business. but IL is the fact nevertheless.
-Four thousand women earn wages in the
slaughter houses OF the United States. com
PEELED TO watch the Draining or throat cutting
OF live stock day after day.
According to the statistics, 2.530,S46 women
are engaged in domestic and personal service.
which means that a great class Is called upon
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 popular-price 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 I'm houses and hotels
would go unmade. and dirty clothes would pile