Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-14
WOMEN IN INDUSTRIES.
Cessation Of Hostilitics Expected 10 Gre.
ate Large Surplus Of Men in the
Labor Market.

With the cessation Of active military
operation the industrial problem in the
United States has changed its aspect
Before the armlstlce was signed, the diff
tlcult task was to provide the enormously
increased production required for the
war while the number Of men workers
was being stcadily depleted by withdrawal
into military service Now that the
arrnistice is signed the immediate task
Is 10 accomplish the change from war
basis TO n peace basis with the least pos
sIbe unemployment Thus stated the
task rs the same for all workers, including
women and men, says Miss Mary Van
kloeck, director. Woman in Industry
Service, Department of Labor The Fed
eral Government - developing n policy
with reference TO cancellation ri contracts
with due regard 10 relation 10 the trans
fer OF labor from one occupation to an
other, the conversion Of plants manu-
featuring munitions TO the manufacture Of
products required in peace. the stirntila-
tion Of the peace industries, plans for
public works, and demohilization Of r.
turning soldiers at sufficiently slow rate
TO insure their reinstatement in normal
occupations with the least possible loss Of
timc
TO those who have taken mems places.
Many persons are asking the Woman in
Industry Service of the United States
Department Of Labor whether these
women should not now withdraw to give
place to the men II would seem fair
policy for business organization 10 rein
state a returning soldier. in the position
which he held before the war. If he wishes
to he relnstatcd, but in Justice to the
woman who has taken his place during
the war sufficient notice should be given
to enable her to be transferred 10 other
work
The question most frequently raised
relates 10 women who, although not
previously employed, have been drawn
INTO galnful employment for patriotic
reasons. No information is available
showing the extent Of the employment Of
women who have not hitherto been wage
earners.
Scattered evidence indicates that the
number IS much smaller than is generally
supposed and that large numbers Of
women employed in the war industries
have been transferred from other occlI-
patlons In one plant in the war industries,
- per cent had come from other factories,
- per cent from domestic service and
i0Ctt1At~s11NoF sAA4A Nv LtaAN AAtAli
drics, and only five per cent had not been
employed previously If these figures are
typical, the problem for the women in the
war industries IS 70 arrange for their trans
fer q normal employment, unless the
plants IN which they are at work are con-
verted 10 production in peace time under
conditions making it possible 10 retain
the same personnel
4 report published by large orgqniza-
ton representing employers points out
that IN the last p wears the employment
OF women IN manufacturing has increased
more rapidly than that OF men and adds
The expansion OF their activities Al this
time may be regarded not As radical
innovation, but rather IS al acceleration
oi a normal development. With the
need for production 10 feed and clothe and
shelter other nations besides our own.
there Is no reason 10 believe that the en-
ployment Of women in industry viii not
increase. rather than decrease.
PROBLEM NOT WITHDRAWAL
In view of this need and the responsible
ties OF women for their own support, and
often for the support Of dependents. it Is
that any agencies of the
Federal government should urge upon
them or upon any other group Of workers,
that they withdraw entirely from gainiul
if they wish to make this
contribution to the economic life of the
nation. The problem is not the with
drawal Of any group Of workers volun-
tarily, but rather the organization Of in
dustry in such a way as 10 utilize TO the
full all of the available working forces Of
the country Who can doubt that the
enormous work of reconstruction will de
mand the activity Of every man and
woman capable of taking part in the pro
duction needed, not only for the United
States, but for the countries Of Europe