The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-02-03
THE WOMAN WHO WORKS.

Gamma steele Richardson in Pictorial Review.)
The incoming generation Of would-be wage earn
ers can be saved much IL we who have worked are
honest in writing Of our early experiences. our Pc
Rod of probation. With every orator who pictures
the rewards Of economic independence, there should
be heard practical worker capable Of explaining
the cost and the method by which independence Is
achieved. Then girls would find short cuts to sue
cess, and employers would be spared the plague Of
women who cling to the idea that wage learning is
a gay adventure in which equality" means equali-
ty of work and wages with men, plus all the prvi-
leges Of women.
For years girls have been told that it is better for
them to engage in some gainful occupation than to
linger, more less idly, under the parental roof
until marriage offers permanent interests and occu-
patton. But this advice has not been accompanied
by practical information as to how the girl might
achieve the efficiency which makes for conentment
if not for permanent happiness in wage earning.
Economic independence has been pictured too much
privilege and not enough an obligation Girls
have vsuazed themselves as privileged creatures
in the marts Of trade rather than as, year-i and
r-out workers. earning every pen1y paid them.
assuming obligations stern if not a.. permanent
as those entered into by their brothers and the
they may some day marry.
For woman has passed the experimental stage in
the gainful occupations. She is now a recognized
factor important cog in the huge wheel of trade.
In many lines OF work she has proven herself the
equal of In lines she draws the same
wages men. For this equality, she must pay in
loss Of privileges -s.E
The day when place is made in an office for a
u;r hoco ho.c Goth -.
practically past. She is employed because the firm
needs service. She has her right to choose her
work. just boy chooses it. and. having chosen,
she finds that she must do it, or be replaced by
girl who can and will.
The price Of economic equality and independence
is efficiency. Hundreds, thousands of girls. pay
the price with heads up and both successful and
contented. But millions unprepared and uniformed
plunge into factories stores Offices vaguely
iieving that because they are girls they will not
have to work SO hard nor wait long for promotion
as boys do. They still lean that frail reed.
appeal. They wall against long hours, small pay
and slow advancement when they find that, having
flung themselves into competition with men they
must work man fashion.
The girl who demands the right to choose her
work soon learns that wage-earning is not privi-
c equality with men. she finds that it spells equality
in hours, in duties in responsibilities as well In
wages. The competent woman who earns as much
as competent man, turns out the same amount OF
work that he does. The woman or girl who is in.
efficient slips into the paheticay large class of in
efficient men. and suffers failure. The man of this
sort takes to drink and the road The woman takes
to tears and matrmony.
II ic tbo rio of
ginful occupation If she desires And this is true
whatever her social position and her financial needs
The daughter of rich parents has just much right
to be economically independent Of parents
brother has. The same people who condemn the son
for not making his own way among men often con-
denim the daughter for competing with girls who
must work. They do not say that the boy from a
prosperous home takes bread and butter from mer
who need it more than he does. Rather they admire
him for competing with men of any and all classes
in the shoulder to shoulder struggle for industrial
commercial. or professional success.
This is because the struggle is fair. The son Of
poverty who does the work as the son of pros.
perity. demands the same wages. The competition
between the girl who need not work and the CIR
who must work to live is unfair for the daughter Of
prosperity is very apt to take wages than would
| make her economically independents because sht
does not have to pay board. In her eyes, wage earn
| ing may be only gay adventure, preceding ths
more serious business Of marriage.
II the movement towards the mintage of coir
worth 2's cents could be traced to it's orisina
source it would be safe bet that u began witt
some tlghtwad who thinks that nichel IL too much
to dror into the contribution box.-wichita tIIana
Beacon.