Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-22
What Women Are
Doing in Washington
.sDAY the girls who do war work in wash

..DAY the girls who do war work in wash
I ington at least much as they get
from the packers in the Chicago stockyards." :"
is the substance of telegram sent to Secre-
,ary McAdoo last week on the subject Of
hlgher wages for women employed in the
Government Bureau OF Printing and En-
craving -
The message was sent from the National
Wonens Trade Union League by Miss Agnes
Nestor. its legislative chairman 1t was Miss
this country with the American labor dele
CATION from a six weeks Conversation" with
the representatives of labor and trades unions
In England Ireland and France.
MISS NESTOR is vice president of the In
lVl ternational Glovemakers' Union and
member Of the committee of women in in
dustry Of the Council of National Defense
She was chosen by Mr.. Gompers along with
Miss Melinda Scott, of the New York
Womens Trades Union League, to represent
organized women in America on this deega-
ton sent by the American Federation of
Labor.
They were treated in England with all the
honors due an officially accredited mission
from the United States. Receptions were
arranged for them by David Lloyd George
and Arthur Balfour. Lord Bryce entertained
them. Arthur Henderson, leader Of the Brit
ish Labor party, travelled with them George
Bernard Shaw. Mrs. Humphry Ward and
the Sidney Webbs were among the British
notabes who were pleased to make their
acquaintance"
I'VE were only week i'm France" said
Miss Nestor on her return to Washington,
where she and her fellow voyagers were re-
ceived by the President and reported to him
of their trip. During that time l personally
did not visit any French factory. for we spent
three days In the war zone travelling through
towns and villages now under fire. The men
of the party went to a munitions plant one
but otta ndaA .iv,fo go
reception arranged for Miss Scott and my
self by Nine Duchesne, a French feministe
and labor leader.
ssTNTERNATIONALI sense of its
/ strength and validity Is the outstand-
ing impression which remains from my trip -
said Miss Nestor, her mild gray eyes kindlins
with momentary enthusiasm. II never be-
lieved would sense the solidarity of what
we are all hghtins for so deeply.
Miss Gertrude Bonham and Miss Mary
Macarthur are two trades union women In
England whose names carry across the
Atlantic. Miss Macarthur Is head of the
National Federation OF Women Workers, a
woman of the leisure class who has, never
theless, been able to identify herself thor
oughly with the working-class movement
Miss Bonham is expected to come to the
United States for the annual conference OF
the American Federation of Labor in Min.
neapolis this month where we Of the Ameri-
can labor mission will make our hnal report
on our visit"
NTHER women in Washington made theii
~ arrangements TO be present at the A. F.
of L. convention in Minneapolis. II was
natural enough that Miss Van Leek and Miss
Mary Anderson, of the ordnance department
should attend, but Ii was bit surprising
to learn that Inez Hayes (Gilmore) Irwin
wife Of Will Irwin. now OF the Creel com
mittee, looked forward to being there.
IT am a great labor fan. you know said
Mrs Irwin, as though 1t were necessary to
explain why novelist should be interested
An such matters. II intend to fit In the con
yention along with speaking tour which
will include Cincinnati, Indianapolis and st
paul. which Maud Younger and are going
10 take for the National Womans party"
rKARY HEAToN WORSE tMrs JOSEPH
Nl O'Bren) Is another novelist who hai
been working for the committee on public
| information in Washington. Mrs. O'Brier
has been here more or less all winter a
work on pamphlets for public speakers, ant
for the past month has been In Chicago ts
obtain material for the part played In thi'
country by different nationals such as thu
Poles, the Lithuanians and Slavs.