The labor advocate. [volume] (Cincinnati, Ohio) 1912-1937, 1917-06-09

for lower salaries. These women, many
OF them unconsciously were virtually
used as strike breakers.
The Pennsylvania Railroad has been
making extensive experiment to deter
mine in what positions women may be
substituted for men in order that men
may be released for military service
Other managers of offices, such as promi
nent bankers, have announced before
hand that they intended to expedite en-
listment by making arrangements to en-
| ploy women clerks in the place of men.
| Many have announced, however, that
they did not propose to pay women the
same salaries as was paid the men. From
this it is evident that one of the imme-
diate and vital problems that must be
met is this purpose to exploit women by
| paying them lower wages than are paid
to men doing the same work.
The methods and purposes of business
for private profit did not change over
night with the declaration of war be-
tween the United States and Germany
Both men and women must be protected
against exploitation of this kind. The
one provision that can assure this pro-
lection is equal pay for equal work
When women refuse to work more
cheaply than men, financial interests will
not direct employers to substitute wom-
en- for men but to choose from among
both men and women upon a basis of
value of service.
1t is clear that in the months to come
women will enter industry and business
life in rapidly increasing numbers. Con-
scription for war service 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 transporta
ton agencies. Women must do their part
of this work essential to the nations
success in winning the war, but their
work must be directed and organized in
accord with standards of physical well
fare, self-reSpect and freedom. Women
will have to work out their own saliva
tion-they can not depend upon men for
this. This necessitates intelligent self
interest and cooperation among women.
If women direct their entrance into
the business world inteligently and Or
ganize industrial relationships equtably,
they can avert long and needless strug-
giles against established injustice This
is work to be done by women's organi-
cations, 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 provisions
for women to take the places of men
who might desire to enlist for the war
they asked representatives of the Won
ans Suffrage Party if they could fur
nish women. These representatives re-
piled they could if the women who tool
the mems places should receive the same
pay as q man would receive taking the
same place. This means that a woman
beginner would be paid the same as a
!: man beginner The Woman's Suffrage
Party, through its War Service Enroll
ment Bureau will help to fill vacancies
from the lists of women enrolled with
them. The women will first be trained
in the school of craftsmanship conducted
by the United Cigar Stores Company and
be given pay while being instructed in
their duties. This is the usual procedure
.. with men. Their pay will be increased
as they become more proficient exactly
with the pay of men similarly employed
In this national emergency upon wom-
4 en- will fall mems responsibilities as wei
as mems work. They can fulfill theil
obligations only when given equal pay
1t would be unwise to look upon this
e development of the war as temporary
J. to be met with makeshfts Many of the
: men will go to the firing line never to
+. return. Women's possibilities will b'
permanent.
The jagged burrows the war will GU
across the nations involved in it will
mean a new world at the close of th
/ war. 1t is idle to imagine that pre-wa
conditions can ever be re-established-
probably it would be unwise to desire
. Changes are whirling fast upon changes
: If the war is worth the lighting, thes
changes ought to count for liberty AM
democracy. Changes ought to be in fur
therance of permanent ideals.
Instead of clnging to the past, w
d ought to plan boldly for splendid wor
after the war-a world of new-foun
liberty. where each shall assume full re
y, sponsibility for their own lives.
- True women have no desire to shir
responsibility or duty as mothers of tn
&c race, but they demand the right to Civ
w their performance of duty moral valu
possible only when the volition is as
sured
The slogan Equal pay for equ;
work" which women have raised to Pre-
tect their interests at this time is
, furtherance of the highest ideals c
- womanhood. 1t expresses self-respec
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