Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1916-01-21
STATE FEDERATION
OF WOMEN'S CLUBS
Greetings From the Industrial Wei
fare COMMITTEES:

Greetings From the Industrial Vel
fare Committees
Entering upon this new phase of
club work it is somewhat appalling
to your comm ittee to discover the
broad scope over which its field of
endeayors might extend. Webster
informs us that the term industrial
means employment or pursuit, either
bodily or mental, and that the word
welfare signifies prosperity or the
enjoyment OF the common blessings
OF life. With such a broad title our
committee is given the reins TO wan
der where we please, promote a
hobby or follow Il favorite phantom.
However, we promise to try and ere
ate an interest in that which is prac-
teal.
In our State Federation. we aim
to follow in a measure, the policies
OF the General Federation, whose
corresponding committee chairman
has informed us that such work there
is classified under the following sub
jects: Child Welfare; Living Wage;
Institutions; Prison Reform; Unem-
ployed; and immigration. We do
not hope to reyolutionize the entire
state i'll ali of the above named ques-
tions; but, first of all, we shall en-
deayor to interest the club women
to the extent of informing them
selves on those topics of Importance
in our state. We need to know the
times and conditions under which we
live. The club women should know
the laws of our state pertaining to
women and children: then we shall
know when they are being violated.
The women should have their atten-
ton directed toward the wrongs
which are crying to be righted
Our special chairman on "Immi-
grafton Mrs. O. G. Ellis of Olym-
pia, is asking that a committee be
appointed in each club to look after
the strangers within our gates We
suggest that this plan be extended to
have such committee also consti-
tuted as an Industrial Welfare COM
mittee, to work on the various prob
lens which present themselves from
time to time in the different COM
munities.
Interest in legislation is funda-
mental in the development of hui
manity and in the prom otion of our
industries. Industries touch every
other phase of life. A recent survey
made in King county shows that the
majority of boys who leave school be-
tween the ages of II and 6, do so
to work where there is no opportun-
ity of progress or advancement, and
no chance to learn a-trade- 1t was
also shown that out of 200 down
town newsboys, 50 per cent of them
had both parents living. and as to
school, less than one-half had
reached the eighth grade. This
shows the necessity for more school
ing and the keeping of the smaller
children off the streets. The larger
problems appear in the larger cities,
but individual lives are as valuable
in one place as another, and every
community should have its welfare
committee, composed of women with
true mother hearts. 1t is true that
we have our probation officers and
juvenile courts, but often, with
them, the viewpoint of a mother is
| overlooked.
Conditions for the so-called labor
ing people in our state have in re-
cent years been greatly improved. In
1913 the state legislature passed the
minimum wage law. which provides
for the appointment of a commission
by the governor, whose duties con-
sist of making Investigations rela-
tive to the conditions surrounding
the employment of women and chill
dren and then establishing a proper
and living wage. This commission
is known as the State Industrial Wei
| fare commission, and at it's deliber-
atoms. the employer, employee, and
general public are all represented.
Eleven states have Industrial Vel
fare comm issions. Washington has
already established a fixed wage in
six industries and that is more than
any other state has accomplished up
to this time.
What more can We do for the men
tai stimulus of the working girl, and
/ for her diversion? The working
part of the day is fairly short; there
is much time left to live "A life sep
arate and apart from the factory.
Could not some form of a club be or
ganized for these girls, wherein they
will experience closer personal assn
Citations? Is not comprehensive one