Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-26
the plant, wearing the overalls at work
land their street clothes enr0ute.
ALL WEAR THEM At WORK


| ALL WEAR THEM At WORK
"They all wear them now except the
girls clerking." said Mrs. Parkhurst
superintendent of the women and girls
at the Morrell plant, "At first some
Of the older ones demurred and held
out for the skirts, because they said 1t
attracted too much attention and they
felt they we're meing made fun of by
some Of the boys. It is no longer no
ticed and all think the new dress is
much safer, more convenient and more
sanitary.
CAN WORK FASTER AND SAFER
"The women can work better with
the overalls than with their regular
street or home garb. There
- some of the work they
do that skirts would prove hindrance
to and also a danger. The overalls
give freer action and permit of faster
work. This is an. item to be consid-
cred where one is engaged in piece
work and speed counts in making up
the days earnings. The girl or woman
that can move about the quickest can
trim the most meat and do many other
tasks about packing house more
rapidly.
eARB MORE SANITARY
They are much more sanitary" said
Mrs. Parkhurst wher asked II the dis.
carding OF the skirts did not help the
employees keep more clean. Here in
the trimming room and in the sausage
department. as well, 1t was common be.
fore the new dress was adopted, to see
a woman or girl with q skirt laden
with water and grease and draSsins
the noor. This was not sanitary and
1t did not tend to make the employe
careful, but rather careless, about her
appearance.
PARTICULAR ABOUT LOOKS
This is al chaag ed since the over.
ais have been adopted and many a
person who was shiftless or careless
ABOUT her personal appearance with a
skirt Is now spick and span and a bit
OF pride or vanity has seemingly made
ner perk up somewhat. Not only has
she been lifted up in her self respect
by becoming more clean, but her work
is better and she has become a more
sanitary employe, careful to keep meat
from getting dirty as we'll as her
clothes. All girls are somewhat vain
and particular about their appearance.
For instance you viii not find men in
overalls wearing neckties as a rule.
Just look at these girls. Many of them
have tie of one kind or another about |
her neck, and 1t looks attractive. too.
does 1t not? Well, you see, girls can !
look neat In overalls and their white |
caps just as we'll as shirt waists and !
skirts. You see they do 1t here"
PROTECTION FROM ACCIDENTS
"The overalls are safer, too. I had
an experience one day that proved this
TO my satisfaction. was coming down
The stairs from the killing floor. and.
as might happen to any woman, the
hem Of my skirt had become loose and
my heel caught in it. l was fortunate
enough to catch the hand rail 1ust in
Time to save myself from falling. What
might have happened may be conjec-
tured had l been unable to catch the
'ailing- This kind Of an accident could
1ot happen with overalls such as our
girls wear. I could recount a number
- AOooOAo W yuoIIy GIllb 8A.O T8Ll0T |
han skirts for women and girls in an
Industrial concern.
THE company keeps them in stock,
md other articles such as shoes and
lrrons needed. These are handled for
not for profit, and can
70 bought by the girl upon entering
he employe Of the company and she /.
nay pay for them out of her wages.
Thus she is not asked to do anything
hat will prove hardship to her in
'rder to subscribe to working condi-
ions and we try to take care OF the
Iirls and women and safeguard them
n every way, for we are interested In
heir welfare"
NOT PINK TEA VARIETY
II you have the impression that the /
pc OF women and girls at work there ,