The Colorado statesman., 1917-06-16
WOMEN REPLACE men
One Million So Employed, in Eng
land, Uncle Sam Finds.
Steps Are Being Taken to Shorten
Hours Of Work and to Protect
Health of the Workers.

The extent to which women have re-
placed men in industry in Great Brit
ain during the war, the operations
which they are required to perform in
factories and other lines of endeavor,
periods of employment, arrangements
for rest and meals, and the physical
condition of woman workers, together
with a discussion of matters affecting
the employment of juveniles, including
hours of labor, and supervision of
health and welfare, are set forth in a
bulletin issued by Uncle Sans bureau
of labor statistics.
1t is estimated that since the war
began and down to October, 1916, $685.
500 women or 30.6 per cent of the
number employed in July, 1914, had
been drawn into the various govern
mental, industrial and commercial ac-
tivities, and that in October, 1916, 933,-
900 women had directly replaced men
in industry. Many of these women
are performing operations heretofore
considered impossible for them to do.
In seeking to conserve the health
and thus promote the efficiency of
these workers, the health of munition
workers committee reached the con-
clusion that long hours, particularly
at night, are perhaps the chief fac
tors in fatigue and that in the interest
of output and health they should be
restricted. There should be suitable
pauses for rest during the working pc
riod and adequate cessation from work
nt in or tn a
riodic holidays. The system of three
shifts of eight hours appears to yield
better results than one shift of 13 to
IA or two shifts of II hours each, be-
cause "the strain of night work, in
deed the strain generally, is sensibily
diminished, greater vigor of work is
maintained throughout the shift, less
time is lost by unpunctuality or ILL
ness, and there is less liability to ac-
cident." Employers are increasingly
recognizing the disadvantages of an
overtime system. Well managed in
dustrial canteens, facilities for rest at
night, and high standard of sanitary
conditions are essential, for "cleanli-
ness and good order contribute to in
creased output as well as to the dis
cipline and morale of the factory"
Wise and suitable arrangements for
the management and supervision of
women's labor are regarded as i'm
portant.
During 1914 the number of women
who obtained employment in other dis
tricts through the employment ex-
changes was 329SS; in 1915, 1896
in 1916, 100000; indicating the in
creaslng mobility of women's labor
due to war conditions.
To maintain the physical well-being
of children, opportunities for recrea-
ton. time for plenty of sleep, canteen
facilities and the efforts of welfare
supervisors are regarded as highly i'm
portant. Sunday work should be elm
mated and children should be en-
ployed at night only when other labor
cannot be obtained. Employment of
boys under sixteen should be restrict
ed to 60 hours per week, it is urged.
1t should be borne in mind that this
limit recommended by the committee
expresses their opinion of the maxi
mum which may be permitted to meet
the imperative need of necessary mill
tary and other supplies in time of
great emergency. 1t is estimated that
100000 children at or about the age of
fourteen, normally leave the elemen-
tary schools annually, and that in 1915
this number was exceeded by about
$4,000 with the probability that it is
now much greater.