The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-30
on WAGES. WOMEN
AND EMPLOYMENT

Editor The star: Attic am pref.
n firmly of opinion that most OF the
matter which appears In the news
papers In this corner OF the world.
even including that which has all
the outward appearance OF being
genuine correspondence from read
era |. mostly OF the machine made
variety, venture to offer my com
mcnts on q subject which Is, ! think.
closely allied TO that Of getting after
deiinouert dads" as Is given ex-
precision TO In your issue Of Satur'
day over the signature OF Is. Nj.
Farmer
All right.mlnded superficial think.
ers viii naturally say Amen to the
writer's view OF II. and l am not
saying that don't. but would Ike
TO dig = little deeper.
II 10 not so very long ago since
your paper was pretty well filled
with q tremendous howl from the fs.
male teachers and others on their
behalf that they should get equal
nav with the men teachers. and also
In this. please note that I am not
giving my opinion on the matter.
only am TO follow up the results
OF this equal pay business 10 It's nat
urzsl conclusion
Let US presume. then. that q man
and woman are equal In ability. have
equal duties to perform and receive
equal pay. they set acquainted. then
- ~
ing which period present day con
vsntionalim compeis the man to dig
into his salary TO pay for her adml--
sion TO all entertainments they may
wish to attend. also all tranrporta'
don charges when he N along with
her, as well a. restaurant expenses
In fact he II expected to clear off In
= liberal manner all her expenses
Incidental TO these umes. besides
givs her expensive presents every
now and then. including nothing less
than diamond ring on the occasion
q their engaSement--and on top Of
thfs. ! think Il viii be admitted that
women pay. rs q rule somewhat iess
than men for their board and room.
~ NV Wust wv saS dp Win hSf
salary? Save IL up to provide a
home and furnish 1T oh. no: by no
meanA The conventional system
again says the prospective husband
must do that. but on the off chance
that she did. who would like to be in
that unfortunate mans poxitiony II
II one hundred chances 10 one that
he would be reminded Of the fact
that -this house Is mine. etc, etc. /"
every other now and then. when
something crossed her. I do not ex.
poet that any one viii take serious
issue with me when / say most OF
them require their salary. whatever
II may be. to live. Now. anyone can
realize that the verb ito live N ca
pable Of tremendous elasticity. as we
know many can. and do. live re.
specially under ten dollars = week.
while others can not live within
their income OF probably ten hundred
= week. but In general. the average
woman In this puff and powder age
just requires what she gets to live.
Then what il the result OF this expe-
rience after marriage. when the in
come q the two In cut exactly in
half? She soon finds she can's do Il
and longs to have her freedom. with
the result that the divorce court is
applied to 20 that she can get back
again to equal pay" y. n.
Farmer wants the man to produce
bondsmen that would keep him in
work 10 that money enough would
be forthcoming to provide for bring
Ing up the results Of this failure.
marriage and also pay the aiimony
the courts usually allow the wife
under such circumstances, all to tho
detriment Of the other fellow. who
may. like myself. during the last
nine months. be honestly looking for
work. but between one misfortune
and another, I have only been able
70 secure about six weeks In all dur,
ing that time. and yet my wife and
are facing the problem of living
with our family an we ought. but in
doing SO we have both earned the
title. r. NJ. r. past Masters OF
Economy thru dire experience, and
could teach 1t to the great majority
Of Seattleltes.
Now, who II to biane7 Personallv
give II up and will pass IL on "a
r. NJ. Farmer.
II