The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-05-26

Greeting-Inquiries received at this
Office show that there is misunder-
standing of that part of the work of my
Committee on Labor which has to do
with women in industry An erroneous
idea, which is strikingly general, is that
wage earning women are not represent
ed by women with trade union cards in
the Subcommittee on Women in In
dustry. From the inquiries it is evident
that many have only vague or an in
correct conception of the organization
of the Council of National Defense and
its various advisory agencies. The fol-
lowing will clarity the situation:
The Naval Appropriations Law of
1916 provided for Council of National
Defense to be composed of the following
members of the Presidents Cabinet:
Secretary of War, Secretary of the In
terror, Postmaster General Secretary of
Commerce, Secretary of Agriculture and
Secretary of Labor. The law further
provided for an Advisory Commission
to consist of seven civilians. The Pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor was appointed by President Will
son as member of the Advisory Com
mission. In order to facilitate its work,
the Council OF National Defense and
the Advisory Commission made each
member of the latter, chairman of a
committee, to assist him in the work of
national defense apportioned to him.
The undersigned was made chairman of
the Committee on Labor, including Con-
servation and Welfare of Workers. This
{ ON toe 1h in, ,t,,
advisory to and cooperative with the
chairman of the committee in his work
as member of the Advisory Commits
sion.
invited to assist me in the work of
this Committee on Labor representa-
tive trade unionists, employers of labor,
iinancicrs, publicists, experts in various
scientific fields and students. The large
Committee on Labor consists of approx
imately three hundred members
An Executive Committee was appoint
ed to plan the work of the committee
On this Executive Committee there are,
in addition to myself and my assistant
in my work as member of the Advis-
ory Commission, Mr.. James w. Sullivan,
(member of |. T. U), five trade union
lists.
Among the committees provided for
by the Executive Committee is the sub
on Women in Industry. When
for this committee an addi
lional number of trade union women
were added to the General Committee
on Labor.
Since there is no provision for sal
aries or expenses for any member on
any Subcommittee, and as the work of
the Committee on Women in Industry
in order to be effective must be con-
tinuous, it was necessary to appoint some
woman as chairman who could afford
to give all of her time and perform the
work gratuitously
The names of several trade union
women were considered while the chair
manship was under consideration, but
all were performing indispensable serv-
ice TO their organizations and were finan-
cially dependent upon salaries received
for their work. They could not con
tinue their work for their organizations
and take up the additional work as
chairman of this committee. For these
reasons, together with her general svm-
rathy and proven ability, Mrs, Borden
Hartman was selected as chairman of
the committee The committee consists
of i3 members, of whom "A are mem
bers of trade unions.
Recently the Council of National De
Tense appointed Woman's Board. One
Of the members of this board is Agne,
Nestor, who is also a member of my
subcommittee on Women in Industry
II is evident that this committee will be
able to cooperate with the Woman''
Board THROUGH Miss Ncstor. who will be
in touch with the work done by Tho
committee.
It seems to me that in view of these
facts ample provision has been made
for protecting the interests of women il
industry so far as the machinery of The
Council of National Defense is con
ccrned and, as all readers can see foi
themselves. trade union women have Z
representation that will enable them tc
nrotect the standards of women in in
dustry and to assist these women in as
eortir" and maintaining their rights
/ The declarations and the positions takel
/ by women who are members Of tho
| Woran's Board are Of such a characte
J as 10 warrant the opinion that thi
/ board also is fully aware that industria
/ Justice is fundamental in protecting tho
| interests OF women. Much serious con
sidcration has been given to this matte
/ ~ order that the rights Of women MAJ
be protected as well as the interests o
| the entire labor movement The ten
| dency is apparent that in the months tc
come the number of women going int