The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-01-11
'WOMAN'S WORK
IN WAR time


Man power" is rightly accounted
one of the decisive elements in the
world war. But Woman power j.
also to be included in any survey Of
the myriad forces enlisted in the ire
mendous conflict.
Such war, summoning all the en-
ergies of nations, has revealed TO the
belligerent powers huge reservoir
Of latent human energy in their wo-
men, and even their children. Women
in the harvest fields had before now
been common sight in Europe, but
today her toll has been almost infinlte-
ly multiplied in amount, scope and III
its sources Of social origin. What
Europe has achieved, and what mis-
takes Europe has made, are today of
keen interest to the employers Of
America, now that we are ourselves
in the war and are facing a steadily
growing shortage Of labor.
The "dilution" of industrial labor in
Europe, through the advent of women
workers is now commonplace. Wo-
men are not only the harvest hands,
but to large degree the munition
makers, and in host Of the common
processes of industry they have taken
over vocational tasks that were gem
orally assumed to be capable only Of
masculine performance. In manufac-
turing, transportation, commerce and
finance the female fraction Of the pay
roll has increased steadily to large
proportions. The possibilities and the
limitations alike revealed by this order
of things possess much significance
for the American business man.
In England today about 1,256,0O0
women have undertaken work former
ly done almost wholly by men, raising
their employment total from about
S,282,999 to 4,538,OOO. This total
employment does not include domestic
servants, women in small shops, or on
farms, or nurses in military, naval or
Red Cross hospitals Slightly over
100000 are now engaged in agricul-
tural labor. Still more are employed
in the great wartime industry Of
munition-making. How vast that in
dustry has become is indicated by the
fact that the ministry of munitions is
now employing 100000 persons and
is spending nearly SS,50O,000,0OO a
year.
Practically universal tribute has
been in Great Britain to both the spir-
1t and the capacity of the women work.
ers in war time, their zeal and their
dizziness in host of crafts being a
subject of general comment. DR.. VIM.
Garnett writes in "After-War Prob
lens" 1--WE have trained women to
become skilled at mechanical trades
which no woman had touched before.
and an intensive system of training
has revealed that we have tapped an
almost limitless amount of emergency
labor capable of doing what had hither
to been trade mystery
In general industry the opportuniz
ties for female employment IN thil
Tcuuntry should naFd especial anpea1
to American ingenuity and manage
ment talent. The government itself
is here pointing the way. The army
and navy departments - especial
ly the latter with its "Yeowomen"-
which before the war frowned upon all
employment of women, are now en-
phatically favoring their appointment
to clerical positions.
In fact, the various administrative
branches of the national government
are now considering a definite pro
gram for feminine "dilution of labor"
and in connection with general plans
for possible CONSUMPTION of workers
for necessary war work employment,
nationwide labor census is being ia
ken, in which women are included.
Wall street has been even quicker
that the Getty" district of London to
recruit women to fill hundreds of DO
sitions made vacant by militaryunsp
quirements,-W Irving Ball in
American Industries for December.