Denver labor bulletin., 1917-08-04

w ltTUulIldl WeUl Oh SlTlht
the management filled their places
from among the men Office force and
then filled the Office positions formerly
held by men with women who were to
work for lower salaries. These wom-
en-, many of them unconsciously, were
virtually used as e-breakers.
The Pennsylvania railroad has been
making extensive experiments to de-
termine in what positions women may
be substituted for men in order that
men may be released for military serv-
ice. Other managers of offices, such as
prominent bankers, have announced
beforehand that they intended to ex-
pedite enlistment by making arrange
ments to employ women clerks in the
place of men. Many have announced,
however, that they did not purpose to
pay women the same salaries as was
paid the.men. From this it is evident
that one of the immediate and vital
problems that must be met is this pur-
pose to exploit women by paying them
lower wages than are paid TO men do
ing the same work
The methods and purposes of bust
ness for private profit did not change
overnight with the declaration of war
between the United States and Ger
many. Both men and women must be
protected against exploitation of this
kind. The one provision that can as
sure this protection is equal pay for
equal work. When women refuse to
work more cheaply than men, financial
interests will not direct employers to
substitute women for men but to
choose from among both men and
women upon a basis of value of serv-
ice.
1t is clear that in the months to
come women will enter industry and
business life in rapidly increasing
numbers. Conscription for war serv-
ice creates new work that only men
can perform while at the same time
makes more imperative continuous
output from industry and commerce
and operation of transportation agen-
cies. Women must do their part of
this work essential to the nations sue
cess in winning the war. but their
work must be directed and organized
in accord with standards of physical
welfare, self-respect and freedom.
Women will have to work out their own
salvation-they can not depend upon
men for this. This necessitates intel
ligent self-interest and cooperation
among women.
II women direct their entrance into
the business world intelligently and or
ganize industrial relationships equit-
ably, they can avert long and needless
struggles against established lnjus-
tice. This is work to be done by wom-
ems organizations, together with the
trade unions of men.
One effort of the women to deal with
this problem is very promising. When
the United Cigar Stores company of
New York city began to make provis-
ions for women to take the places of
men who might desire TO enlist for
the war, they asked Representatives of
the Woman's Suffrage party if they
could furnish women. These repre- !
sentatives replied they could If the
women who took the mems places
should receive the same pay as a man
would receive taking the same place.
This means that woman beginner
would be paid the same as a man be-
ginncr. The Woman's Suffrage party,
thru its war service enrolment bureau
will help to fill vacancies from the lists
of women enrolled with them. The
women will first be trained in the
school of salesmanship conducted by
the United Cigar Stores company and
be given pay while being instructed in
their duties. This is the usual pro-
cedure with men. Their pay will be
increased as they become more proi
similarly employed.
women will fall mems responsibilities
as well as mems work. They can full |
fill their obligations only when given
equal pay.
1t would be unwise to look upon this |
development of the war as temporary
to be met with makeshifts. Many of |
the men will go to the firing line never
to return. Women's responsibilities |
will be permanent.
Tho faps-ni Fprr-n.t-c ha will D
cut across the nations involved in ii |
will mean a new world at the close |
of the war. 1t is idle to imagine that
pre-war conditions can ever be re-
ablished-probably it would be un-
wise to desire. Changes are whirling
fast upon changes. II the war is |
worth the fighting, these changes |
ought to count for liberty and democ- |
racy. Changes ought to be in further |
ance of permanent ideals.
Instead of clinging to the past, we
ought to plan boldly for splendid |
world after the war-a world of new
found liberty where each shall assume /
full responsibility for their own lives. 4
True women have no desire to shirk I
responsibility or duty as mothers of 4
the race, but they demand the right to /
give their performance of duty moral |
value possible only when the volition |
is assured.
The slogan Equal pay for equal
work" which women have raised to
protect their interests at this time is
in furthcrance of the highest ideals of
womanhood. 1t expresses self-respect,
conscious of ability to render service.
jealously guarding dignity against un-
LIBERALIZATION in the eyes of others.
Women want to give service to the
nation but they want that service to