The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1920-03-12
Minimum Wage Laws Have Proven
Helpful In Many States. Work
ers Need Organization.
By II. j. Conway.

BY ii. j. Conway.
In the January Advocate the posi-
ton of our Association on the subject
Of minimum wage for women work
ers was stated wherein we reiterated
our former convictions on the import
ance of minimum wage for women
employed in the retail industry, but
also declared what in our opinion were
the advantages Of the percentage in
creases from time to time when plac-
ing new working agreements.
Our position on this subject is the
logical result Of the years Of exper-
fence and of the pretty thorough
knowledge CLEANED from various fields
demonstrating that the adoption of
a minimum wage did not always bring
the assurance that the amount speci-
fled as the minimum was paid by the
employers, particularly in the mer-
chandising industry which represents
the field of our activities
At no time have we ever been OPP
posed to the minimum wage either by
law or through collective bargaining,
but we are Of the opinion that the full
benefits Of the enactment of a min
imum wage through legal enactment
cannot be obtained except through the
means of organization and collective
bargaining methods, as we know only
too well that there are employers who
could and who would take advantage
of the individual employe and by un-
fair means avoid paying the amount
specified as the legal minimum.
We have noted with interest a pam
phlet issued BY the National Consum-
ers' League on Minimum Wage Com
missions, Current Facts" which fur
nishes a condensed report of what has
been accomplished by the various min
imum wage commissions.
Fourteen states now have minimum
wage legislation, namely, Arizona,
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kan
sas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North
Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wash
ington, Wisconsin and the District of
Columbia.
1t is almost universal in English
speaking countries outside Of the
United States, having been adopted
by Australia, Great Britain, Tasmania
and New Zealand. In addition the
Canadian provinces of Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba, Quebec and Sas-
katchewan have legal minimum
wage for women
Three ways of raising the wages OF
women employees is mentioned:
First, by the voluntary action of the
employers; this being the least salts.
factory of any as can be readily un
derstood
Second, through the organization ot
the workers. This is the logical meth
cd, although it is pointed out that IL
low paid occupations the women have
not yet succeeded in forming effective
organizations, hence it naturally fol
lows that the legal enactment of {
minimum wage benefits this class o
employees.
/ Third, minimum wage by legisla
tion, this plan being ideal in theor,
but in as far as the saleswomen ar
concerned has not been found to fur
nish of itself the complete remed,
needed.
The pamphlet lists the minimum wag
DEGREES for experienced adult womel
during 1919 as follows:
District of Columbia, mercantile
il trade ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
California, all women workers. 1876
| Washington, all women workers 1872
| Massachusetts, candy occupation 1875
Kansas, factories ....................... lilo
Mrs. Florence Kelley, general secre
tary of the National Consumer:
League, is woman who has mad
an exhaustive study of the workin
conditions and wages of women in ir
dustry and much credit is due her fo
her untiring efforts and able achieve
; ments. She says:
Industrial unrest cannot be allaye
by anti-strike laws or by injunction