The Washington times., 1921-06-26
Painted Dolls GiUe Uncle Sam
"A Black Eye, Says Woman Clerk
Married Workers Send Over
Stiff Barrage In Tilt With
Unmarried Associates.

departments against the single girl
employees who have been directing
none too sweet words against their
married sisters In the controversy
over which group shall nrst suffer
release from the service. were made
In showers yesterday. Continued
sring from the single girls. however.
jailed to give any noticeable advan-
age of the married workers. Some
few appeals, In lesser numbers. hewed
Ito the line and asked for consider
alton of merit and efficiency In re-
tanning workers. rather than con-
alteration of the social status OF the
incumbents
WOULD BAR BURLEsQUE QUEENS.
mo woman. either married or
single, who can go to work dressed
in silks and satins. and loking like
. burlesque actress should be given
employment in the government" em-
phatically declares Honesty" II am
married woman. employed at the
Bureau of Engraving and I am in a
good position to see and know both
sides of the married VS.. unmarried
controversy.
These burlesque stage types. and
they alone. are today responsible for
the vast amount of : criticism that
has been hurled at the Bureau of En-
craving women workers. Until this
class of women Is entirely eliminated
from the Government service, the
United States win mot have the one
great thing IT 10 now striving so
hard to get-efficiency.
1T Is not their work they are most
interested In, 1t In the signing of the
payroll that Is their chief worry, for
unless woman has something to
work for that is really worth while.
she does not care how her work is
done.
IL am q married woman, twenty
eight years old, with a husband who
is not strong. and i am proud that
am able to work to be Of assistance
to him, as well as to help provide a
home for two orphan nieces who have
no one else from whom they can ex-
pect aid.
But because i am married must
step down and have my loved ones
deprived of what few comforts 1 can
give them. Just SO my position can
be filled by one of the painted dolls,
that she may buy more finery
instead of spending their money
foolishy. why didn't these single
girls go to their home States, IL they
have any. and cast their votes as
did? That was too much trouble Yet
they will say and do everything they
can against married woman employ
ed In their offices.
CIRCUMSTANCES IMPORrANr.
"Regardless of whether a woman ia
married or single her work and her
circumstances should be considered. / |
know many of the married and single
girls who are not efficient by any
means But they draw their salaries
just the same. know many married
women who are in positions similar
to my own Like myself they are
compelled to work, not by choice. but
by conditions over which they have
no control.
'These single girls who are so rude
1y criticising men for allowing their
wives to work had best stop to think
before they crow SO loudly, for no
one knows just what is really In store
When June 80 comea. let us hope
that above all efficiency win be frst
considered. and the unworthy re-
leased Our boys who did their duty
should be cared for first Then IL
there are any places left open, give
them to married women who are try
ing to make their children better
men and women, to take their places
when they grow too old"
ut would be very hard matter
to determine In each Individual case
Just who needs work she more:
married woman or her unmarried
sister" remarks q married woman
Z employed In the AdJutant Generals
ofnce, but since we all came into
the service with the same chances
for promotion before us, would IT
not be moro fair to retain or re
lease according to our efficiency In
stsad of our marital state7
WORK TO BUY UNDIEs,
TT is perfectly true that there will
be married women retained in some
instances where husbands are : estab-
1ished and commanding good salaries. |
Then. too, there are girls whose
parents are amply able to support
them. and who desire their return |
home. Many girls are merely work. |
Ing for the pleasure of providing |
extras that are dear to q girls heart,
such as silk lingerie, believed Nv
many to be necessities.
II have known girls who think |
nothing of paying nve to ten dollars
for silk hose. undies and the like. |
when many married women are work.
ing for the purpose of buying n |
home. that there may be a comforta-
BILE place for the babies they hope
will bless their home. Still Others
are working to provide food, cloth |
ing, shelter and school equipment
for the children.
In some cases the. efficiency board
lowers our rating to the point neces-
sary to release US In some of our
oases where we have been promoted
to the extent that retention would be
imperative, the board has given us
two ratings: one showing what our
standing would be II we were not mar
ried, and another. low enough to cause
our discharge. - |
when the unmarried women have
proven themselves our superiors we arc
glad TO have them retained in prefer
ence TO ourselves, but when we have
proved ourselves superior we most en-
phatically believe that we are being
done an injustice in being dismissed