New-York tribune., 1918-12-02
Women and High Wages
Great Peace Problems

to that of the much larger army Of |
industrial workers at home who must |
be led into the industries of peace
without the loss of time or earning
capacity.
Compromise, Says vanderIip
One of those who advocated middle
course on the wage question is Frank
A. Vanderlip, president of the National /
City Bank. Only such a course, in his
opinion, will prevent industrial dis
asters during the near future.
"The wage problem is ore that must
be solved in a spirit of compromise"
he said. 'I think that the men them
selves will be the first to realize the
necessity for some sort of q readjust
ment. In that readjustment it will be
necessary for them to realize, also ,
that full days work will be neces-
sary in order to obtain a full days
pay: The constant changes and the in
fiation of war times. as everybody
knows, have made it possible for many
a days work in return for it,
"The magnitude of the industrial de-
mobilization does not appear to have
been grasped by many Of those. even
closely associated with it. We have
made tremendous war effort here at
nome. 1t was that effort that whipped
the Germans. Not only the shells that
went across the ocean, but the know
ledge of the millions more to come
played an important part in bringing
victory.
ut is said that 100000 workers
were employed in War Industries here
at home. | think that figure is about
right. If such is the case it is easv to
see that the convention of this great
body Of workers from war organiza-
ton to one If peace cannot take place
Immediately. Even the large number
OF women workers who have taken
mems places will not figure conspic-
uously IN this situation, because their
number, as compared to this great
total, is too small.
Problem Is Not Easy
"To say how the wage problem or
any of the great industrial nrohlens
growing out of this world Situation
VIII be solved is about as easy as to
say Where a feather in a whirlwind
VIII hght. 1t is just a question of
everybody working together and main
tanning spirit of cooperation, such as
the spirit that won the war"
~ James T. Holland, president of the
ne was convinced that employers wonld
accept the point of view of the work
ers: Such spirit of compromise he
aoded, would prevent the spread to this
side of the Atlantic of the snirit of
unrest 1l,ei evident abroad.
, mere is every reason to believe
mat this contagious state of unrest
lelt throughout Europe will not effect
us mere because we have the nstru-
,,Ic,l ,Tens az ovr olsposal to prevent unem-
ployment,' he said. During the wear
the United States has been in the war
there has been built up in every state
government machine with the orpani-
Zatlon and means of controlling tha
distribution of labor.
Inc sudden ending of the war al
ready has resulted in the shutting
oown OF many of the war industries ,
and the question of unemployment has
caused much uneasiness. There ;s 'lr'o no
ground for this feeling, because thu
government has met the issue souarelv
and Is taking measures to prevent nm,
employment - 0'-' u''-
unfortunately, there is a growing
tendency among the manufacturers to
regard the decrease of wages as the
flrst step in the reconstruction pro
gramme, followed by an increase in the
hours of work. Organized labor
ers are not going to be placed
on the wage scale that existed before
the war, because living is so high that
IL would mean starvation to many. In
many cases employers simply have nm
dertaken a solution of the problem af-
ter looking at it from their point of
view, and it will take little time and
effort to get them to see that the work
er also has point of view"
Thinks There's Work for All
Miss Louise Oldencrantz, head of
the women's division of the United
States Employment Service in New
YORK, was another who leaned to the
belief that there would be sufficient
employment for all who are willing to
work, both men and women
~ am convinced that there will be
sufficient employment for both men
and women for long time to come"
said Miss Oldencrantz. wThe woman
now IN employment formerly classified
as mans work have given satisfaction.
generally speaking, and there is every
indication that they will remain. Em.
ployers who have substituted women
tor men are not eager to make
change where they have found that
the women give at least as efficient
service as men,
The consideration of waoeo &c ~,
important one-probably the deciding
factor III fixing woman's future status
IN the industrial world. In manv in
stances women are being paid wages
that are Identical with the scale on
which men were paid. But that scale
Is the pre-war scale, or somewhat mn
der present day wages. Also. it has
been found that much higher class
Of women workers may be had for a
given wage scale, than where men arc
employed. 1t is impossible for IN
stance, to obtain anything aprpoachinr
ethclent service among male workers
Tor $1,000 year. Many verv canabls
women are to be found who can ba en
ployed at that figure"
Women in Railroad Work
The attitude of the Pennsvlvoria
Railroad, probably the largest single
employer of woman labor in what baTn.
tofore were mems tasks, is typical of
that of most employers of women. More
than 10000 women have been placed in
such positions as agents, operators car
checkers, gatekeepers and doing light
mechanical work on the railroad In
nearly every case they are being paid
/COtfi1ncd m, M no toroI,,.\