The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-11-01
War Work =
Women Must Receive Full
Pay for Labor.
~ SOPHIE IRENE LOEB.

X lew Gays ago. III SpCaNlAs De1OIc
the womcn's division Of the National
Council OF Defense IN Albany, John
Mitchell. chairman Of the industrial
commission. set forth tho Importance
Of woman's work in the war.
| He stated that hundreds of women
are being dnily called to the places Of
/ men who have gone to the front He
also stated how some unscia pulOus
employers NIGH, take advantage Of the
situation to secure low priced labor
! and pay women less for the work
they are doins-~tne same work that
was done by the mon who went to
war.
/ He strongly advocated the joint in-
| tercst Of women on this subject.
/ "Woman's pay must be equal To that
of man. if she does his work. he said,
and it is the interest of the women
themselves that viii secure their rights
| III this connection" he asserted
| pub!ie opinion will likely force the
| adoption of regulations and laws If
necessary 10 secure this equal pay for
equal labor. t:ut there is another
phase of the problem to which wom-
en- must pay heed. II is the need of
conserving their strength us mothers
of the race. This is the most impor
taIii fail, and il lies within the
power If women 10 secure such proper
consideration at this time of this im-
portan phase Of their existence. as viii
s,andardige conditions and continue
after the war in the interest of con-
servin. the wellbeing OF womanhood.
The department OF labor in WASH
inrton i'll Il report issued after contiu-
uous investigation points how in the
various trades the strength of woman
is being taxed 50 that even uncon-
sciously She is weakened-a condition
that might prove "A great hardship in
the future not only to herself. but for
the race.
In the new activities of the machine
shop. the work demands strenuous use
of the body to which heretofore woman
has not been accustomed-uses that
might seriously affect child bearing.
for example.
No woman should SO strain her ener-
gy as to teop;,r.lize this most impor-
tant function of life itself. Aside from
ton of creating proper conditions by
| Which woman may work in place of
man and not endanger her health and
that of her children.
our ally, England. learned this inn
portant truth early III the war. She
realized that overtime work for woin-
I'll in the important war factories
was not only a dctrnrnt 10 the health
Of women but to the ouptut Of the
concern.
In many of these places they had to
adopt a strict shift of Il stated number
of hours SO that proper recreation
might he had by the women. Better
sanitary conditions as Wen us vcntia-
tons were maintained than when the
men worked there,
Needless to say that many Of these
reforms viii be continued after the
war 10 the good of the men who 80
back to work.
1t is for woman to set the pace in
this country. Every day, somewhere,
lsome place. a woman is taking the
place of Il man,
Many gases and odors IN various
concerns would naturally affect women
because they have been unaccustolned
To them, hui rather than become ac-
cuStomed to them, and thus possibly
undermine their strength and nerves,
every effort should be put forth to al
leyiate unnecessary hardship in con-
neetion with such work.
While all Of this may be secured by
Joint interest OF women workers. there
is cons iIpf,I l1IE a h,, al Z ,ai
the Individual woman. Recreation
change of scene, Il bit of pleasure, dt-
version. all are rs important as work
itself If she would continue in the
work. Toe many women oyerestimat.
their strength and think they can so on
from day to day without any fresh air
brisk walks, exercise, amusement, etc
Today they have begun to esteem them
as necessities and not as lnSuries.
These elements are more important
now during VAR time than they were
III peace time. Because tho energy of
| woman is So much in demand. and
since it must give its best power tn,
same must be balanced by all that goes
to keep the spirit alive and the bod,
fit.
The health of woman, strange te
say, is one Of the big elements thai
will help to win the war-especially the
woman who works. Now is the time
in the early fall to take heed of al
the sound principles that keep hen
well and strong.
la Il word, every effort must needs
he made by woman to keep strong
and happy in taking the place of man
l-topyright 1917