Evening journal., 1920-08-14
WAR WORKERS
Want old JOBS
Washington Life Alluring
Though There is Neither
War Nor Work
MAKE GOOD PAY
But SPEND ALL

WASHINGTON. Aus. i3.-It is now
only few months less than two years
sinoe The ar mistice was signed. but
Washington still finds itself filled TO
capacity with what have come TO be
known as war workers." or girls
who came here during the war n
work for the Government because
OF the attraction Of a wage that
averaged s25 a week, which was in
most cases twice that they were get
ting at home.
During the war Washington was so
illled with these ''wsr workers. that
nni begin 10 provide COM
Portable quarters for all Of them.
Ihey lived four In a room, in many
cases. or five or six in a two-roOm
apartment. When the armistice was
signed 10 was predicted that there
would be an exodus from Washing
ton that would cause rental agents
to lower their prices But such was
not the case. The war workers.
refused TO leave. and year from
the signing Of The apmistice there is
no visible increase In the number OF
available living places. Although the
rulls of the Government departments
might show that thousands Of work
ers were separated from the Gov
ernment payrolls during the period.
u remains a fact that there are near
~ as many war workers" here now
as during the war.
This Is said TO be due 10 the fact
that the war workers." almost en-
tirely girls between Is and 30. once
having mad a taste OF Washington, az
good wages and easy hours. refused
TO think Of going back home TO ten
hours a day. Si5 a week and the eyes
or the village chaperons. They have
been living in Washington as they
ploasedl II thew desired 10 smoke
cigarettes there were no chaperOns
and none OF the hometown folk 90
know it. II they had their gay parties
there was no one 10 gossip about it.
II they bought pretty things with
their money and wore striking
clothes. the waichfui eye Of ihe
economical parent was not there TO
indicate disapproyal.
In short, the Washington war
workers" have been having a grand
time They went 10 work at 2 and
quit AZ i30. They had time 90 shop
afternoons and then 90 dress for the
evening party. They went riding or
dancing nearly every night, and what
did 1t matter II they stayed out until
midnight or later?
Many OF these girls came here with
ont any kind Of experience Many of
them were not even typists. let alone
stenographers. When the time came
for the departments 60 cut down in
the number Of employees. the less
skilled were the FIRST 90 be cut on.
But did they accept the siluaiionf
They did not They rebelled strongly
against the scheme Of things that
A. Nrf
in Washington and began regular
u7npaign 70 be Ept on Uncle Sans
payroll
The result has been that some Of
them being praciic9i-tOok lessons
In typewriiing and stenography and
passed civil service examinations TO
get Jobs. Others invoked the inter
cession of Congressmen or senators
and by their influence kept their jobs.
lust where they all work Is a mys-
terry The War Department alone let
ont thousands NJ them The Navy
Department discharged a good many,
and other departments cut down. The
Internal Revenue Bureau took on a
great many. the Census Bureau alb
s0rhed others. the Prohibition Com
missioner found places FOR some and
10y this time a majority OF the girls
who came here for temporary Jobs
NNIlUk Tic war NdNH ANulA lNAAltdNtnN
employment OF some sort.
Living conditions for thPm are bet
ter, but not much. Rents have gone
up instead OF down. The cOurts have
held a new rent law unconstitutional,
and the landlords are piling on all the
rent they can. Many OF the girl work
ers. however. are living In temporary
hotels that the Government built dur
ing the war on the space between the
Union station and flfe CapitO. TheSe
buildings have PROVED a godsent 70
them. There they received a com
foriahha-sized room amid pleasant
surroundings, with breakfast and din
mr. for a reasonable sum Each girl
has a separate room. snd there IS no
crOvvding, Thereis a matrOn for each
building. Of which they are more
than a dO8sn. The "chaperon'' Is a
kindly disposed person as a rule, and
the old irOu-clad law Of college dor
mifories is unknown here.
These Government hotels. ~ course
only make room for a few hundred
The rest are scattered over the city
Many of thcm live In rOouing houses
nuF In r,ufrso % ff,ouroe In fhocn rac0<