The Washington times., 1919-10-10
Mrs. COnbOy, Veteran Of
Many a Strike, Is Only
WornanAtLabor Confab

One Of the picturesque figures on
the labor side OF the national indus
trial conference is Mrs. Sara A. Con-
boy, OF New York city, secretary
treasurer Of the United Textile Work
ers Of America.
She is a veteran OF many = strike,
many a hard-fought labor struggle.
Whenever the weavers or loom-hXers
are in trouble, she leaves her desk In
New York and goes TO the scene. she
is equally good az making a eart-tail
speech or at talking turkey" 70
corporation magnats in his Onice.
Fourteen years ago Mrs Conboy
was employed as a carpet weaver IN
a Boston factory. Ever since that
time she has been active In the labor
movement. and as travelling organizer
and for six years an Official OF the
textile union, she has led no less than
200 strikes.
Before coming to Washington the
woman labor leader attended the hFst
meeting OF the New York state re-
commission OF which she
was appointed vice president by Gov
ernOr Smith Of New York. she Is
also chairman Of the advisory board
state Of New York,
"ChiId Labor Laws Farce"
Mrs. Conboy refused TO make any
statement as to the program TO De
submitted by the labor delegates, but
She said she favored the immediate
passage Of a uniform national child
labor law and a minimum wage law
for women workers.
"A Uniform child labor law Is OF
chief Importance because II 10 neces-
sary TO build up the manhood and
womanhoOd OF the future" she SAID.
Our present State child labor laws
are q farce.
s.I also believe that Congress ought
to pass a minimum wage law 10 en-
able women workers to live decently
ard, TO develop normally. The ten
dencv at present is equal pay for men
and women doing equal work.
ssTbe women workers arc now Tar
better of than they were in the days
when I was employed in a Boston fac
tory as a carpet weaver. We labored
twelve hours a day, from in the
morning 10 at night. 4 great step
forward in the Improvement OF the
OF the women workers has
been the adoption OF the eight-hOur
day,
Is Ardent suHFaEist.
zone problem that has occupied my
attention is whether the woman work
er who displaced the man going of 70
war will remain in her Job. am Of
the opinion that sooner or later these
women will go back 70 their house
holds, and rightfully So"
Mrs. Conboy Is an ardent Huhragist,
and at the height Of the campaign FOR
the passage Of the Federal amend
ment, she was a tireless stump speak
er for the cause"
u do not believe in women Rthliat-
ing with a party organization" she
said. While the granting Of the right
to vote Is a good thing for women, I
believe that the working woman will
eb slower to benefit than the woman
OF leisure. The working woman, in
my opinion, Will have 70 undergo a
long process Of education before she
Will be fully able 20 use the ballot CO.
pably."
Ouly Woman COnferee'
with many women taking an ac-
i've part In industry, finance and in I
TACT every phase Of national life" she
added, "it Is. indeed, a surprise 20 me
that am the only woman selected %
be present az such an important gath |
erlng. I know OF many women lead I
ing important parts IN the organiza- 1
ton and operation of corporations, I
and yet there has not been a single /
American woman chosen 20 represent
the employers OF the pubilc-at-large
at the c0nforence.
Mr. Gompers said recently; u re-