The Washington herald., 1920-01-29
WORKING GIRLS
Low In ETHICS,
SPEAKER FINDS
National Conference Told
Not to Make Business
Road to Matrimony.
SHOULD BE UPLIFTERS
Concerted Action Urged to
Obtain Equal Pay for
Equal Service"


A clear call for woman's aim in
the world of achievement to be
service more than material success,
was sounded at the first meeting
of the Conference of Business and
Professional Women held at the
Young woman's Christian Associa-
tion, last night
TT will never be enough for q
woman to be successful In business
unless she gives something to the
world" said Miss Lena Phillips, ex-
ecutive secretary of the National
Federation of Business and Profess
sional Women. ANY success that
comes to us will be but futile
thing unless we leave the Sworld a
cleaner and a finer place for our
being here. This desire is our
women's heritage. And the woman
who crushes it out in herself. crushes
out the gift of Heaven.
There is no reason why we should
emulate mems ideas of getting on "
said Miss Phillips I'VE women are
the people who think in the terms of
the heart, of health and children, and
love and old age and happiness. the
big. simple things of life that count.
Every woman is at heart a mother.
Some of us who have been in the game
for long time and had lot of hard
knocks have grown a little crusty.
But down underneath we have the
same old instincts for higher stand
ards of business and personal
morality. and it is our duty to fight
for these standards.
Ideals Not Attained.
Il like. to think OF our men in the
war. of the boys who faced death and
worse with a laugh whose lives were
given for ideals of democracy not yet
attained" said Miss Phillips. And it
sometimes seems to me that those who
lie in Flanders have passed the torch
on to us-us women. From things that
l have seen in Washington. 1 doubt
whether the vision OF the things they
fought for has been given to those in
power"
Miss Phillips also urged the pushing
of legislation guaranteeing equal pay
for eesIaI work.
We have talked a lot ahont our
pay for equal work. But we have
toward pushing the eight kind of leg
islation. SO that the young business
woman of tomorrow may be better
off than we are; that the going may
be easier. The ballot has been given
US and we must meet its obligations.
thinking in terms of womanhood.
There arc 12O0O.0oo women in the Unit
ed States engaged in Eainful occupa-
tions, and it seems to me that there
Is no limit to their possible accom-
plishments."
Miss Phillips. however, scored
women on lack of initiative and
courage.
Men have said aud Justly" she
declared. that women don't want
responsibility, that they don't want
the hig places. The TRIBE is tina,
We haven't had nerve enough. We
need to develop seh-coniidence,
self-reliance, courage and initiative.
We must not be afraid to trust our
own convictions. The women who
have attained outstanding success
aren't always brainier than the rest
of us nor have they always more
attractive personalities. BIT they
always have had the Courage to
play the game and never think of
quitting, To psy the price which
Is Cxacted fd all ach!evehi% II.
More Service, Less Sex.
Education in business ethics for the
girls who use business as an ante
room for matrimony" was advocated
by Miss Phillips.
Far be it from me to say that these
girls shouldn't marry" she SAID. but
1t isn't right for them to shrug their
pretty little shoulders and say, 4
should worry when they lack on
their work. hey should be educated
| to contribute more service and less
sex consciousness and extreme dress
| to the business world.
I'VE complain" said Miss Phillips,
that doors are closed to us, that
! there Is discrimination in the civil
| service, that we don't get a square
deal and what not. All these are true.
But now we should cease talking about
them 40 much and step out and do