Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-12-24
FREDERIC J. HASKIN'S ARTICLE

Wy ASHIN.GTON, D. c., Dec. 20.-One of
w the most interesting problems of re-
w construction in the capital is the re-
turn to their homes, their old jobs or the
arms of their loved ones, of about IOO,OOO
women war workers who are no longer
needed
About this time last year. the stately lobby
of the great union station vas thrOnged with
women--young women. old women, spinsters
and matrons dapper-lOoking city women
with new and shiny bags; comfortably un-
fashionable small-town women with cane
suitcases and shoe boxes full of lunch; wom-
en- from the country. looking confused and
unhappy, and toting carpet bags and port
manteaus such as hadn't been in Washing
ton since the second inauguration OF Grover
Cleveland .....
These women were the advance guard OF
the war wOrkers''-that valiant little army,
which hurriedly modified at the govern
ment's Macedonian cry and rushed to Wash
ington with freshly-sharpened pencils and
letters from their local clergymen. Some or
them came prompted by sheer patriotism.
They had sent husbands, brothers, fathers or
finances off to fight and wanted to do lit
tie something themselves. Some had no man
to send, and were wishfuI to offer them
selves as substitutes. With others, patriot
ism was a secondary motive. They wished to
see Washington or they craved change, anu
they saw in war work" the wished-for Cp-
pOrtunity. Some were coming to take JOBS
which paid much less than the ones they had
left behind. Some were coming to take jobs
which would pay more than they had earned
before in their lives. But. for one reason or
another they came-about hundred thou
sand of them in all.
How, during the win,er, the spring, the
summer, and the early fall, these women
worked, some patiently, sOi 1mpatlently'
but most of them efficiently; how they car
boned the letters of General Smuggs and in
dexed the letters of Chairman Sm1gglns;
how they crowded into single street cars, two
hundred thick: how, although Washington
was specifically kind to the war workers, 1T
launched against them a campaign OF rent
profteering which ompelled them to appeal
to the COVE "nment for relief; how the gov
eminent ordered that all vacant bedrooms be
turned open to them, and new dormitOries be
built for them-all these things have been
told.
But now the war ha, ended, and with the
war has gone to a great extent, the need
for the war worker The war worker has
undoubtedly been very OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
it might be said-but just undoubtedly she
has been very expensive. The figures beside
her name on the government payroll are
weighty.
Come over and help us" was the appeal
of the government in December, 1917 do
us favor and go home" is the appeal of
the government to the war worke in Decem-
Der. 1918.
One of the nice things which officials like
to say about the woman war worker is that
she is obediCnt. In this respect she is now
living up to her record Of course. in num-
Der of cases she couldn't very we'll help her
SELF for she was turned off with more or less
abruptness. They couldn't very we'll stay
with their jobs when no jobs remained to
stay with. But, in other instances, where 1t
was merely suggested that the division or the
bureau would welcome designations, the res
ignations were forthcoming with patriotic
promptness
Definite figures as to how many war work
ers have left town are not now available. IL
is estimated. however that about twenty per
cent have already gone, and about as many
more will go before the end of January.