Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-11-20

Washington. Nov. 20,-Therc viii he
~ demobilization of the feminine section
nf the industrial army IN America on
account of peace, according to Miss Mary
Van Kleek.
Miss Van kleck is the head of the Women
in Industry Bureau of the Department
nj Labor. She knows more than any
other person in America about what
women have done to help win the war
and about what they arc going to- do to
maintain America industrial supremacy
after the war Her opinions carry author
itv among those who know her IN WASH
ington. She is herself, labor experts say,
a perfect example of the cfhClcncy OF whici!
women are capable IN organization and
business. But there are some scores OF
other women IN Washington who can
almost match her performances.
Miss Van kleek is an enthusiast as
to the future OF her sex. "O course
she said 'manv of the women who are
now engaged in what the War Industries
Roard regards as essential work VIII.
With the conclusion of peace, go INTO
other fields. There will then come an
end to,ntensive war work. Many thousands
of women have been transferred from
work not considered essential 10 the
prosecution of the war. They can go
hack to their former cmployments, The
doors Of factories. mills farms and other
places will not be closed to them
.eT'he conditions of employment will
be different from those existing before the
war. Women, for instance, viii insist
on equal wages for equal work i they
arc able TO make a piano IN the same length
nf time MS a gwen number OF men, ana
make II inst ~ well they Will demand
l. HI - 4r
to collect fares and make runs with the
same efficiency as male conductors on
street cars, they will insist on the same
reward for their labor
oyTRAIIS WILL STAY.
Industry may Just AS we'll resign itself
to the fact that a new order IS coming.
Womsn in industry has come to stay IN
industry. In nearly all the mills Of Penn
svlyania, New England and other parts
of the country YOU will find the woman
in overalls At first the spectacle Of
woman with smudgcd face, covered with
dust and oil, communicated something of
a shock TO the ordinary citizen. But
that time has gone.
The woman in oversls has come 10
STAY, reitATatcd Mi] Van keek She
has come TO stay with n full envelop:
Hat is, an cnvelop just as full as that Of
The men al the next lathe, who can make
Il perform no greater service than she
can
NOME SERVICE RssEST1AL.
How Will the domestic service problem
BE- disposed Of" Miss Van kleck was
asked
Simply by raising the standard of do
nestle service, she replied Give il an
equal standing with other Industries
There II no reason whv a woman should
not wash dishes, scrub floors and make
beds. Neither Is there any sound reason
WHY she should be looked down on and
I.nderpaid for doing these essential things.
Domestic service is essential service The
war. of course. has made this KIND Of help
very scarce
Miss Van kleek thinks that men have
resented the INVASION of industry BY
women This NAV be que 70 the fact that
she has been willing % accept smaller
wages for a gwen service. This objection
will be removed II the doctrine Of equal
rights at the pay desk Is accepted generally
# hat Is the only basis on which the ques-
ton can properly be settled, according to
her
Miss Van Kleek Is not at all excited
trades. She takes it for granted She even
seemed a little surprised when asked II
women would have any part in the
operation of the new merchant marine.
There is no reason why women should
not study navigation, she answered,
and obtain masters certificates. Neither
is there any reason why they should not
become able seamen II would not be
difficult for a woman to perform the duties
of the lookout and call 10 the mate on the
bridge, Sail on your starboards quarter,
SIT
The moral tone of industry has been
considerably improved by the advent of
women, according to Miss Van kleek.
She was not enthusiastic about conditions
at Dayton, Ohio, where scores Of former
school teachers are employed Instructing
the Young, she thinks. is an ultra-essential
employment. The United States Employ
ment Service viii do everything possible