The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-07-28
Girl Clerks Deny Contention of
Employers that it Kills
Ambition.
BOARD is TAEING TESTIMONY
Girls Declare That They Cannot Live
DeeentIy on s. Week-To Con-
tinue Hearings.

stores, denied the assertions of their
employers that a minimum wage
would destroy the efficiency of a girl
beginning work in store. The mer-
camille board Of the Industrial Wei
fare Commission called in large
number of girls and each was asked
this question:
In the event a minimum wage
were ordered, do you think it would
tend to keep you from studying and
trying to learn how to be a better
clerk than if you did not know that at
certain time you would receive an
increase in wages?"
Every girl, those making Sc a week
and those who are now paid more
than 500 a month, answered this
question in the negative. There was
no quibbling or hesitancy in the an
sWers either.
During the hearing before the same
board recently several Topeka mer-
chants and some from other places
explained that their chief objection to
the minimum wage was not that it
would injure the business, but that it
would work an injury to the girls.
All the girls asserted it was impos-
sible for them to get enough to eat
and have decent clothes for Sc
week. There was no chance for
amusement or saving on less than 81
or So a week.
Every girl receiving less than So a
week who appeared before the COM
mission was in debt for her clothing.
They bought the clothing on Install
ments and paid for it at a dollar
week, sometimes less.
The board has concluded it's hear
ing in Topeka. 1t will hold hearings
in Hiawatha, Wellington, Wichita,
Kansas City, and in several cities of
the second and third classes before it
completes the work and determines
what a minimum wage should be for
the women workers in the Kansas
stores.
Stricken on Golf Links.-William B.
Throckmorton, So years old, one of the
wealthiest men in Wichita, suffered
stroke of paralysis recently while play
ing golf, and died the same night.
x x
Killed in Baseball Game.-Michael
J. Ternes, a bank employee, was kill
ed in a ball game at st. Marks, a Cath
Ole settlement near Wichita recently,
when another player ran into him, the
injury causing a hemOrrhage. He was
% years old.
x x X
May Have New HoteI.-R. H. Dean,
a Kansas City hotel man, is expected
at Eldorado to consult with the local
committee in regard to the hotel FL
dorado is projecting. The plans call
for a 1925, 900 hotel.
x x x
Car Strike Ends.-Cars of the Jop-
lin & Pittsburg Railway Company
started running again after a suspen-
sion of service of four days. The
strike of the engineers at the power
houses of the company was ended by
an agreement.
Doctor an Officer-Dr. Harrison w.
Wright of Enterprise, formerly of
Overland Park, has been commissioned
a first lieutenant in the medical Off
GERS reserve crops.
X x
Chaplain to Y. M. C. A. Work.-Dr.
James Naismith, head of the K. U.
department of physical education, has
resigned as chaplain of the First Kan
sas infantry, national guard. and will
do war work with the International
7. NJ. c. A.
For Wheat, $1o6 an Acre.-Lyon
County's highest wheat yield so far is
forty-eight and three-tenths bushels to
the acre, grown on twenty-fOur and
one-half acres. The total was 1882
bushels. 1t sold at 1920 a bushe1, to-
falling $2,600.4O.
4 Editor to Go to War.-W. H Wood
house, editor of the Valley Center In
\ dex, and representative in the state
legislature from the North Sedgwick
County District, will leave his paper
or sell it and join the army.
Chetopa to Organize Company
The little town of Chetopa, in the
southeast corner of Labette county,
Is organizing a supply company for
the First field artillery. Lieutenant
Donald of lola is the recruiting of
ficer in charge Of the enlistments.
Killed in Fort Riley Trench.-Hu
bert Devore, 10 years old, of Junction
City, was killed when he fell into a
trench at the Fort Riley cantonment
site, directly in the path of ditch
digging machine.
x x
New Land Bank Secretary.-Johr
B. McManus OF Santa Fe, N. NJ, has
arrived in Wichita to be secretary OF
the Wichita Federal Land Bank. He
succeeds T. J. Guilfoyle, who has beer
made chief inspector for federal land
banks with headquarters in Washing
ton
X * x
Plan Winfield City Market.-Win
field is TO have a city market, backed
by the Housewives Exchange. A del
egation of members of the exchange
have visited Wichita and other towns
within the past few days getting point