The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-09-10


mcnt service of the department of
improving its machinery. With 600
branches scattered throughout the
country, particularly in the large in
dustrial centers, this organization, the
original function of which was finding
jobs for immigrants, is finding workers
for jobs.
In its work SO far the employment
service has had the benefit of the ma
chinery built up by the National
league for woman service, which even
before the United States entered the
war sent investigators to France and
England. 1t has also at its command
the government survey showing war
essential and less essential industries.
1t also has had the active cooperation
of labor unions in many places.
The general plan followed SO far,
and which will doubtless form the ba-
SIS for the big drive to recruit willing
but unframed women through women S
organizations and to draft trained wom-
en- from less essential work into the
war plants. An Illuminating instance
of how it did the latter was furnished
5''i+NAA q St'' ihsiotA IoStois ~
tabllshed by the government on Long
Island required 1000 stitchers. Agents
of the employment service visited such
plants as the collar factories of Troy
and won recruits. In Manhattan fac
| tories where women had worked on
| women IS fancy collars, baby caps and
oorsets more were located. Within week
the thousand needed We're found and
at work.
| The variety of industries in which
women already have been found cap
able of replacing men is almost with
out limit Thousands have taken their
places in munition plants. But when
the big call for women workers comes.
other less romantic but necessary indus
tries will have to be supplied. They will
be needed in plants not apparently di-
reetly connected with the war, but vi
tai in some way TO the military forces
or the civilian population.
The railroads will need them. The
Pennsylvania is already employing $500
IN places formerly held by men, and
they are making good as car cleaners
messengers, drawbridge tenders, cross
ing watchmen, parcel room attendants
ticket agents and even section hands.
IN Ohio women are replacing men il
glass factories. In Arkansas they ar,
at work in lumber camps. On tn,
coast they have found their places il
, the slipyards as painters and carpen
, tiers. In hundreds of shops they ar
already proving themselves capable a
maehinists and in various other kind
/ OF metal work.
1 In many munition centers there ar
!. already maintained by factories ives
: tibule schools, = and it il through thel
J that trained women find their wav (
f permanent work at the bench Plan
g | already made for increased use of won
il en- contemplate the enlargement O
Y these schools and the establishment O
f more.
II Such statistics as are available heI
: show that women already takin
the place of fighting men are workin
I approximately the same hours as I'll
d men and receiving equal pay for equ,
f work. As beginners they natural
II have not received as high conmpens;
e tion as experienced men. but with e,
e perienee some have even outstrippe
o male shopmates. In almost all indu
l. tries reports TO the department of |:
n Dor indicate they have proved ther
e selves efficient and in some kinds
r machine work, notably the manufaetu
o of certain shell eases, have general
d proved more adept.
n The principal call for women in ma
u ufaeturing plants is from the great WI
1t plant belt stretching from Massaeh
re sets to Maryland in Michigan and
y linois, and now the southern states a
beginning to make calls Calls f
A. women to take the places of men
atores are coming from all parts of t
- country.
While the call to munition pla
Is one readily understood by womc
officials pointed out today that 9th
places of men must be taken, and VIII
the recruiting drive is on it will
emphasized that man 5 place must
taken IN many other industries. 7
government is sure of the response.