Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-12-21
SATURDAY. DECEMBER q, 1918
THE WOMAN WORKER

IL is related that manufacturing
concern desired TO locate in Annapolis
some years ago had made some pre-
Iiminary arrangements for doing so.
The concerns product was such as to
require the labor of a considerable
force OF women or girls. When il came
to a matter of securing these female
workers the entire proposition had to
be abandoned because no women and
girls could be found who would con-
sent to work.
This is a regrettable condition and
one that could hardly exist now. To
the war may be credited the fact that
a more sane view of such matters has
been taken by women. We're It not for
the sacrifice of human lives that has
been exacted, the women OF this coun-
try could well afford to pay the price
they have paid for their emancipation
from the letters OF silly convention.
The American woman holds new
place In our national life. She has
demonstrated that she Is not the weak
ling the male species has believed her
to be. And masculine recognition of
this surprising strength which she has
developed during the war bespeaks
greater power for her and forecasts
the ultimate removal of organized OPP
position to suffrage for her.
But woman's work is not yet done.
Che he, rfuan ~ great haiohtc In q
national crisis, when the country must
have Jared badly without her wonder
full adaptability to unfamiliar condi-
lions and her unexpected strength.
But. II she would retain the exalted
position which she has attained, she
must continue in the path she has
blazed.
Peace conditions will no longer
make necessary such sacrifices as have
marked the conduct of women during
the war. but the return of peace should
not cause return of the false pride
which existed so generally before the
war. Women have found that they
may engage in useful. though lowly,
occupations and yet maintain their
self-respect when the country is at
war. Certainly there is no reason they
cannot do so when the country is at
peace.
The clerical professions in which
women are so largely engaged are be-
coming crowded because this form of
labor is tacitly conceded to be gen
teel." while factory workers are at a
premium throughout the country Yet
the latter occupation is far the better
paid. is more healthful. less exhausting
and more suited to woman's nervous
temperament. The notion that a
woman factory employee is social out
cast has been proved utterly false as
a result of women turning to all man
ner of wartime work. We have so
long tolerated this un-American dis
tinction of casteein this country that il
has become fixed feature of our So
cial life.
Woman's wartime work changed all
this while the war lasted and patriotic
emotionalism led men and women to
destroy precedent and tradition. The
national crisis has passed. emotional
ism has subsidized. Now comes the
question whether or not woman will
retain her new found emancipation
and be guided by her heart, or. by
return to the old conditions of counter
felt aristocracy and foolish pride.
again shackle herself with the letters
of a silly convention.
We believe that manufacturing
concern which wants to locate in An
napolis now will have no difficulty in
securing women employees if the work.
ing conditions and pay offered are
such as workers are justly entitled to
have.