New-York tribune., 1918-12-13
Movement Started
ToDefne WOmen's
Place i'm Industry
Trade Union League and
suffragists Join in Plan to
Force New Ruling by War
Roard on Conductorettes
Special Correspondence

SpectGi Correspondence
CLEVELAND, Dec. ia movement
.,.,ted here with the backing of the
Na.;onal Women's Trade Union League
i expected to enlist the support of
women from coast to coast and to
bring ruling by the Federal War La
hor BOARD that will establish definitely
.he rights of women in industry.
The conductorettes' case will be used
as basis for the contest, but the fight
will assume a far broader scope than
the issue raised by Cleveland car
women. There are thousands of
women employed in other industries
throughout the United States, and the
new fight will be waged primarily to
ascertain just what is to be done with
them in the readjustment of the labor
market that will come with the return
of nearly 100000 soldiers.
National significance was given the
movement when Miss Ethel Smith. of
Washington, secretary of the league,
Yesterday promised the support of the
organizations.
An Unjustifiable Rebuke
Miss Smith, before her departure for
Washington tonight. said:
"The War Labor Boards rccommen-
dation that women conductors be dis
charged was .unwarranted and an
unjustifable rebuke to women. whose
vsr work needs no comment
The recommendations of the War
Labor Board, according to Miss Smith,
in the absence of a further ruling,
leaves all women in the dark about
their right to work. She asserts that
thousands Of women will be led to be
lleve they must remain at home unless
definite instructions are issued by the
government.
III women are to sell their labor in
an open market in competition with
men they should be so informed" said
Mrs. Rose Moriarty, champion of the
Cleveland conductorettes, who will as
tries are to be closed to women the
government should say so. If certain
vocations are to be open to women
workers they should know where to file
their applications for employment AS
It is, no one knows when a labor union
will seek 70 oust women employees who
are performing satisfactory service"
Miss Smith explained that the league
would not seek redress in the courts,
but would conline its efforts to fight
Tor favorable ruling by the War La
Dor Board
To Enlist Suffragists
1t Is planned to enlist the aid of all
state suffrage organizations, and Mrs.
Harriet Taylor Upton, of Warren
president of the Ohio Association, was
the first state leader to send a tele-
gram to the War Labor Board She
,clegraphed the following:
"Ohio's Woman's Suffrage Associa-
tion, OF behalf of half million Ohio
women, protests against the act of the
War Labor Board in the conductorettes'
case It creates chaos among women
workers Is inconsistent and unfair"
Mrs Laura B Prince, Of Cleveland
president of the Conductorettes' Asso-
ciation- telegraphed to United States
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, the
thanks of women here for his defence
Of their rights in the Senate Tuesday.
Miss Moriarty wired former President
Taft, now joint chairman Of the Wa1
Labor Board, asking him to give early
consideration to the new appeal
The action, taken with the approval
Of Miss Smith, included protest
against the recommendation of the
board and request for q final adiudi-
cation of The women's pending case, N
which the right of women to seek EN-
ployment and give their service in in
dustry is raised