New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01

Bad wears are ahead for the women. OF
England But let no one worry unduly. They
have come TO stay, and they will obtain the
vote During the transition period when
the shell factories are becoming industrial
plants. when the returning soldiers VIII
have first call on the jobs, when the mems
trade unions are making up their minds
whether women are their allies or their enc
mics. and when Parliament is deciding
whether its ancient solitary reign will be
molested by these energetic newcomers, the
female semi-skiled workers will have Sc
we're experience. The unsklled workers will
have the same sordid experience they have
always had.
This period Of transition may extend
through several years. Gradually, the crea-
ton of new industries. making use OF the
new automatic machinery introduced under
war pressure, will again offer jobs to the
demobilized women. Winning the suffrage,
women will have the power to enforce their
demands for proper payment, and. as voters,
they will suddenly become welcome add
tions to the male trade unions, and, together,
they will continue the fight for a high stand
arl Of living for both men and women.
About eight hundred thousand women have
recently entered industry, transport, com
culture. Five hundred thousand OF these
arc busy in munition-makng.
Workers After the War
Many OF these women will return to the
home at the close Of the war, but large
percentage have come to stay The number
Of women now directly replacing men is
about 100000. These have replaced the men
in 81 1oI Vvo
an for one man. This is direct substitution.
Indirect substitution is found when woman
takes the place Of an unskilled man or
semi-skilled who, in turn, takes the place
of a fully skilled man. Group substitution,
when a group of women takes the place of
a smaller group of men. Substitution by
arrangement, when women plus automatic
machinery do work previously requiring
skilled workers. The introduction of wom-
en- by these methods of substitution is prac-
tically universal throughout the trades. In
trades with definite agreements the womcns
rates approximate the mems. Where there
has been no agreement, the women's woge
has been better than before the war, but
still far too low.
OF women in women's work-in the fuse
and powder trades. as the result of arbtra-
ton, gain has been made. In electrical
engineering and telephone work, except for
certain cases, the rate has changed but
little. Why has woman won a decided ad-
vance in mechanical engineering and not in
electrical engineering? The answer is that
she is organized in mechanical engineering.
Skilled groups of women workers in the
powder machine trade have won real ad
vances. In sugar confectionery tailoring
and shirt making, n fair advance has been
made. But all three trades are closely re-
lated TO war work. Where the woman's
trade organization has been strong she has
obtained a decided rise in wages. whether
she has been doing womens work or sub
sttution work in mems jobs But the bulk
Of women's industries have not kept step
with the increased cost Of living. Nor has
substitution for men necessarily obtained
the mems full rate. Muntion workers have
obtained fair minimum promised them by
the government exactly in so far as their
organizations have enforced the promise
IL is clear, then, that IL is possible at any
time 10 obtain decided advance in wom
ems wages, including sweated industries.
This advance will be obtained when, and not
until when. the trade unions movement. en-
forces it. The trade union movement will
probably not enforce it until women have
the vote.
The war has introduced grave dangers TO
the health OF women by night work, over
time. hot atmospheric conditions. such as oc-