Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-07-13

VTTASHINGTON, d. c., July 3.-The National
wv Womens Trade Union League of America
recently held conference in Kansas CITY.
1t the occasion of the biennial meeting OF the
organization, but 1t also distinctly war con-
ference Discussion was confined to the proDaoie
effects of the women in industry, for THIS
conference of workers. Some important
European reports were read, and the women came
to the following conclusions:
First THAT cause of liberty in foreign
lands is worth the sacrifice of freedom at home!
This resolution read with emphatic enuncia-
ton and then reread The speaker went on to assert
that by freedom was meant that paragraph In the
constitution specifying the rights of free speech,
free press and free assembage
Second THAT labor standards be abrogated
during the war, but improved if possible" This
is direct challenge to those manufacturers who
have recently been suggesting that the government
declare moratorium certain labor laws WnlIe
the lasts The fact that Europe weakened its
efficiency by doing just that very thing at the be-
ginning of the war, and later had to restore all
its pre-war standards, does not seem to have made
the requisite impI Gssop on some American bust
men.
The women also demanded that wherever men
were conscripted, wealth should be conscrpted
that women replacing men in industry should re
ceive the same compensation for the same degree
of efficiency and that when the time came for
making peace terms congress Of women should
be admitted to the assembly for the purpose of
calling upon all nations to establish international
standards safeguarding the rights and health. OF
working women"
This meeting is typical of many such held
among working women during the past two
months Always the same discussion ensues and
the same resolutions are presented In many re-
spects they resemble the so-called confer
of the working men. The women are calm
y preparing to fill the mems places. 1t must not
be inferred that the working woman enjoys the
prospect of war; but neither may 1t be said that
she is blind to opportunity.
While the war undoubtedly spells opportunity
for American working women, 1t is opportunity
fraught with dangers. Unfortunately in the United
States we have a few business men who, like some
in Europe, see in the employment of women
easy means of profit. eff our men leave" said
manufacturer not long ago, 1--WE install ma
women unskilled mechanics at lower wage"
This is what labor has been fearing. For years 1t
has been a ceaseless fight between the mechanic
and machinery, and in most machinery has
won out, exacting the indemnity Of lower wage.
There is one strong check to a widespread low
ering of wages. Such action also lowers the stand
ard of living and reduces the national buying
power, thus upsetting the balance Of things. This
result is not apparent a small scale, but it is
very apparent indeed national scale. The
working man is not only a producer but also
consumer If his wages as a producer cut
his purchasing power as consumer is limited and
the manufacturing class, which profits by lower
wages loses by the decreased purchasing power of
labor.
This the women have pointed out to the manu-
facturers by every means possible, but they admit
that there is almost certain to be an attempt to cut
wages.
The other dangers that face women who take
the place of men in industry are largely physical
Much of the factory work done by men requires
great physical strength In munition factories, for
instance, the handling of big shells and heavy
pieces OF metal would appear to be beyond the
strength of the average woman. Such work, how