The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-29
ORGANIZED LABOR

the disabled persons and to society"
he said. The cost argument against
social insurance is plainly bugaboo.
Instead of costing millions 1t will,
through better organization, save mil
lions which are now being paid for
the care OF sickness. Prevention vs.
argument made either In ignorance or
insincerity. 1t Is bait to lure the
nnwary away from health insurance
by setting up program Of health
protection. Insurance and prcven-
ton are not antagonistic and neither
can take the place of the other. The
paternaiisuc argument has been used
against every good measure that has
been proposed in this country for the
last fifty years. The kind OF company
that this argument has been keeping
does not cause rKht-thinking men to
put tnuch confidence In it, "A
Speaking OF the wartime advent
1f Ht,sfstsfi itfto .indussfy.', Sfsss - arr
kleeck declared that labor recon-
struction win not demand the with
drawaI Of women from suitable oc-
equations. but VIII require action to
establish wages on the basis OF oc-
cupatior and not on the basis of EEK,
while avoiding the danger that wo-
iDIA WIZ IeAlhAtt GNl I1lI
or be introduced into new ones NJ a
lower wage scale than Is paid to the
men.
This ard other problems Of wo-
men in industry she said. were
familiar before the war but are ac-
centuated in the period of reconstruc-
ton. Women workers should be pro-
tected against dangers to health from
insanitary working conditions and
hazardous occupations. inadequate
opportunities for training, and lin
tied chances to- be advanced to more
responsible work in many Industries.
and the dangers TO health involved
In long hours and employment at
night. These conditions and the pay
ment OF a distinctly lower wage IN
women's occupations than in mems
work have always been a check upon
the rendering of the most efficient
service by women workers"
Training OF Children.
The need OF checking the large
exodus Of children from the school
room into workshops. stimulated by
abnormal war conditions and attend
ed by much shifting and denoralixa-
ton. was discussed by MiGs Eaves,
who said that all states should pass
laws to take advantage Of federal as
sistance in establishing continuation
schools and short time courses.
"Our youthful army. enlisted for
service behind the lines. should be
demcbiiized promptly" she added.
the fuIl-tiIne training needed to pre-
pare them for good citizenship and
vocational efficiency"
Congress- WIS urged TO pass a law
establishing the IT, s Employment
Service on an adequate. permanent
basis. as a foremost measure OF labor
reconstruction for preventing unem-
ploymenl crises in the period of de-
mobiiizine the military forces and the
inunition workers. by speakers at the
labor supply and rehabilitation"
session yesterday morning.
Thousands OF workers will be job
less, hungry. restless. and fomonteTs
of social unrest. it was declared, un-
less prompt action Is taken to STA
bilize labor supply and demand
Nathan A. Smyth. assistant direc-
tor general OF the U. s. Employment
Service, Don -. Lescohier, professor
of political economy at the university
of Wisconsin, and Ordway Tead Of
the bureau OF Industrial Hcsearch at
Washington. in the principal ad-
dresses, gave warning Of the danger
in representation and appealed for
immediate legislative measures OF re-
lief. John A. Vol. president OF the
Glass Bottle Blowers association. pre-
sided
Participating in the discussion
were assistant federal director George
w. Kirchwey of the T.. 8. employment
service for New York state. and Prof. |
M. H. Hammond Of the Ohio state |
labor advisor of the United
States food administration. A mes
sage wsS read from Hugh Prayne,
chairman at the labor diviaion OF the