Williston graphic., 1919-02-20

: by the presence IN industry of i'm
mense numbers of women who have
taken the places OF men during the
war Mere justice, to say nothing of
chivalry, dictates that these women
should not be compelled to suffer any
greater loss or Inconvenience than Is
absolutely necessary, for their services
to the nation have been second cnly to
tho services of the men whose places
they were called upon to NIL. One
| general principle IS clear: No female
! worker should remain in any occupa-
tion that Is harmful to health or NOR
ais. Women should disappear as quick
IL as possible from such tasks as con-
ducting and guarding street cars, clean
ing locomotives and great number of
other activities for which conditions OF
life and their physique render them
unfit Another general principle Is that
the proportion of women in industry
ought to be kept within the smallest
practical limits. II we have an efti-
cient national employment service, II
goodly number of the returned soldiers
and sailors are placed on the land and
If wages and the demand for goods are
kept up to the level which is easily at
tainable all female workers who are
displaced from tasks that they have
been performing only since the begin
ming of the war will be able to find
suitable employments in other parts of
the industrial field or in those domestic
occupations which sorely need their
| presence. Those women who are en-
gagged at the same tasks as men should
receive equal pay for equal amounts
and qualities Of work.
National War Labor Board.
"One of the most beneficial govern.
mental organizations Of the war is the
National War Labor Board. Upon the
basis of few fundamental principles
unanimously adopted by the represent.
atives Of labor, capital and the public
it has prevented innumerable strikes
and raised wages to decent levels in
many different industries throughout
the country. Its main guiding princt-
pies have been q family living wage
for all male adult labOrers, recognition
of the right of labor TO organize and to
deal with employers through its chosen
representatives and no coercion OF non
union laborers by. members Of the un-
ion. The War Labor Board ought to
be continued in existence by Congress
and endowed with all the power for ef-
fective action that it can possess under
the Federal Constitution. The princi-
pies. methods. machinery and results
of this institution constitute definite
and far-reaching gain for social JUS
tice. No part Of this advantage should
be lost or given up in time Of peace.
Housing for Working Glasses.
"Housing projects for war workers
which have been completed or almost
completed by the Government Of the
United States have cost some forty
million dollars and are fountl in eleven
cities. While the Federal Government
cannot continue this work in time Of
peace, the example and precedent that
It has set and the experience and
knowledge that it has developed should
not be forthwith neglected and lost.
The great cities in which congestion
and other forms of bad housing are
disgracefully apparent ought to take
up and continue the work at least to
such an extent as will remove the
worst features Of special condition
that is q menace at once to industrial
efficiency, civic health, good morals
and religion.
Social Insurance.
"Until the level of legal minimum
wages is reached the worker stauds In
need Of the device Of insurance. The
State should make comprehensive pro-
vision for Insurance against illness, in
validity, unemployment and old age
So far as possible the insurance fund
should be raised by levy on industry,
a. 1s now done in the case Of accident
compensation. The industry in which
man is employed should provide him
with all that Is necessary to meet all
the needs of his entire life. Therefore,
any contribution to the insurance fund
from the general revenues Of the State
should be only slight and temporary.
For the same reason no contribution
should be exacted from any worker
who Is not getting a higher wage than
is required to meet the present needs
of himself and family. Those who are
below that level can make such a con-
tribution only at the expense Of t"~':-
present welfare. Finally = -4A1-
tratiOn of the insurance ';t! BE-
such as to interfere as /. s,<'><t'H 'Hie