Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-14
Finding Work for Women
BY Frederic \. Haskin

couple of business men and certain
prominent club woman. Today, both
OF these girls are doing the work for
which they are fitted in reliable bust
ness establishments.
Sometimes girl will apply to the
government agency for certain kind
of position and be advised to change
it to something else by the vocational
guide in charge. Mattresses are plac-
ed in candy stores; cash girls have
been turned into parlOr maids and
saleswomen into country domestics.
Each employment agency puts great
emphasis upon the fact that every
woman should be self supporting.
either in the home or o0t OF it, and
that no work is mental so long as the
person concerned feels that it is not.
Positions are secured for girls only
over Is years of age, and no girl is
sent to any place which has not been
thoroughly investigated
few years ago the number of I'M
employed in the United States approx
mated six million. Every winter the
bread lines of the big cities were so
long that municipal measures had to
be adopted to take care of them. The
majority of the bread liners were will
ing to work, but could not get it or did
not know how to go about it. Ohio
was the first state to establish free
employment agency with state Off
Gals in charge who were authorized
to investigate industrial opportunities
for the benefit OF Ohio men and won
en- Offices were opened in five diff
ferent cities and the experiment prov
ed very successful Twelve other
states followed suit during the next
decade, but while conditions were
greatly improved there was need of
create" cooperation.
In answer to crying need congress
last session passed bill authorizing
the department of labor to establish
national employment bureau under
, the direction of the bureau of immi-
grafton to, assist the unemployed in
the United States. The country was
divided into twenty zones, with an
employment headquarters in each zone
and sixty-two branches scattered
among them. In addition to this the
local postoff1ces throughout the states
information through printed applica-
ton blanks that We're handed to each
workman and employer who came to
mail letter. The blank filled in by
| the workman stated that he desired
work gave his qualifications and the
kind of job he wanted. The employers
blank stated the terms upon which
the employer was willing to employ
the kind Of workmen wanted. and
whether or not labor disputes existed.
| When Ia bOrers were required in large
numbers for harvesting or building
and construction. placards were past.
ed on the walls Of the postoffice ad-
vertisin., the fact.
In securing employment for women
great assistance and cooperation has
been pledged by the women's clubs
of the nation who are enthusiastic in
their support of the movement. AT
the convention held last January the
! National Federation of Women's clubs
formally voted to assist the bureau as
much as possible, and since then TWEEN.
ty-one women's organizations have en-.
| tered lne campaign. Anthony Camin.
ETH. director Of the bureau of immi-
grafton. who is travelling over the
country. putting the employment
propaganda into effect. believes that
with the cooperation of the women s
clubs the national employment agen.
cies for women may be made the
greatest benefit to the sex that has
yet been accomplished Already won.
! en- who were too timid and reserved
to seek employment from other ex.
! changes have no hesitancy in taking
their troubles to the government
which treats all personal information
| as confidential.
! Thus the government is clearing the
, industrial road for women and as a
result more and more women are be.
coming bread winners Even women
who have home responsibilities but
are in need of money have been able
TO secure few hours work day
through the offices of the bureau. With
the strength of the women's clubs be.
, hind the movement, it seems that the
share Of the nations work done by
women will increase for some time ia
come