Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1919-02-21

Conditions which cannot be ignored
which are perSisting today, II, indeed
wages have not already fallen, stand
out in q study OF women's work IN
representative industries in Delaware
during war time, made by the National
Consumers League. An examination OF
some OF the facis discovered VIII snow
how urgent IL the need for community
toncorn and community action in be-
half OF the working women Of the
State.
As part OF the general study, visits
were made TO the homes Of tOi girls
employed in Wilmington industrial es-
tahlishments, with view to getting the
facts about war time earnings and how
the girls were meeting war time prices.
The names were secured from employ
ers direct, and an attempt was made TO
visit girls from a variety OF establish
ments. and from different sections OF
the city. Tho questions asked followed
In general similar Investigations recent
" made by the Federal Government and
bv the National Consumers League In
Baltimore.
Wherever possible the workers esti-
mate OF earnings and eXpend lures were
checked by estimates made by their
mothers OF other relatives with whom
they lived.
Full records were secured from 50
girls employed IN % industrial plants In
Wilmington These numbers are too
small for statistical purposes, but they
do Indicate general c0Hd lions. or these
plants % were factories, one was a
gas company. one a telephone company.
one a store. one a railroad and one
an express Office. The factories covered
The following industries: Mun.aons.
hosiery. cloth finishing, worsted. SILK.
tobacco, leather, iron works, textile
machinery lbre. tin and cork seals,
underwear and rubber hose. seventy
nee OF the girls worked in the factories
only six Of whom were in munltion
plants. seven were in the telephone
company. two were clerks, one was a
salesgirl one was In the gas company.
and two colored girls Ind lust LETT fac
tory work, and were returning to do
mest'c service.
All but Ave OF the ss girls were ma
tive Americans. and nfiy-slx were born
in Wilmington SIX others came from
Delaware. Sixty-seven girls were un-
married seventeen were married. and
four were widowed.
II Is likely that in Wilmington most
wage earning girls and women were liv-
ing IT home during the war Housing
conditions had become 50 congested
that It was increasingly d'flcult for wo-
men 10 ind separate board and lodging.
Men earned more and were able 20
pay more, and a general 'scrim'nation
against women boarders soon was APP
parent. The industries were therefore
forced 10 call unon women who had
homes IN The city, Instead Of import
ing them from outside.
Thirteen girls not only had themselves
20 support on these excessively low IN
comes but hid dependents besides
Here NE family was called on 30 exc
out the workers. earnings. This was
true. even OF a girl. Gertrude L.. who
had worked ~ wears IN one mill Her
total years earnings were sf75. Gertrude
lives with her mother gets up n night
70 attend 10 her wants. does all their
70 ut Laundry, cleans their two rooms.
makes al her own clothes. and those
n her mother. She spent 50 FOR rccre- /
alton during the entire year.
Another instance is Mary s., who Is |
separated from her husband. and must /
support herself and little girl. She made I
only s49o33 last year, and was in part |
supported by her parents Another girl |
was deserted by her husband ard be-
cause she was thus forced into factory I
work. her little baby died. Her total |
earnings for the year were only s6N5.20. |
although she Rad tried i've different !
Jobs 10 a search for adeGuate wages.
Itllie c. lost her husband and was
LEFT with a boy Of ten on her hands
che had never worked before and was
frail and delicate. After two and a hslf
years Of struggling. she is able 10 earn
only $40 a week as a sorter In leather
factory. Her parents have come 10 her
rescue and pay the chlld's expenses. BY