Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-28
Humanity in Government
By James J. Davis, Secretary of Labol
 sasegaardinr Mothers of Tomorrow.

Safeguarding Mothers of Tomorrow.
 In industrial competition those em- pioyers realizing the value of the eHnl- nation of all possible obstacles to pro duction and all apparent causes of dis affection naturally bid fair to come out ahead. If for no other reasons good conditions in industry pay. Were efficien- cy, however, the only motive for con cern about the workers surroundings, the matter could be left to individual necessity for the consideration of work ing conditions is the sociological. 1n- dustriaI conditions that affect the health and weli-being of individual workers, af- feet the whole community. In this con nection the protection of women wage earners is particularly important. What ever lowers the vitality and saps the energies of women limits their ability to bestow a. good health heritage upon their children and upon society. Another menace to the community is the failure to establish right systems of sanitation in industry, which means the inevitable spread of disease both through the goods produced. HSur rthermore, the maintenance Of the standards Of work ing conditions at a high level promises l corresponding rise in the standard of | living. Women working in comfortable and fygienic surroundings will have ! lA0lO Et3Oi Syy lIIIl6s dlLu QSSlI6 to llNS satisfactorily The opposite Is nndoubt- edly true The industrial world which with one hand offers women economic opportunities should not with the other hold them down In the sociological mo- ! rasses resulting from stagnant methods | in industry.
 Ever since woman was first admitted l to place in industry and commerce there has been a controversy as to thu right of women to take part in the 1 gainful vacations. This question the women's bureau does not attempt to solve. It can not be denied that per sonal means of earning a living is the right of every woman having no other
 means of support and in this right she should be fully protected. At the same
 time all will agree that women in in i dustry would not exist in an ideal social scheme Women have higher duty and l a higher sphere in life. Eve was the l companion and helpnate of Adam and in every way his social equal but it was I for Adam tG protect Eve and provide 1 for their posterity. It is true that la | ter womankind were considered infer I for, and became, we might say, slaves
 of society.
 | All civilized nations are again coming to recognize the equality of women and
 men and in no country are her rights greater than in America, where her so- cial standing is even higher than mans With all this, I personally prefer to see l woman guiding the destiny of the na- tion-in the home. There is no voca- . ton higher than that assigned by God , and woman has been called to the care , of children, the future society of tht
 world. The position of mother is tho
 most honorable and the most rev erenced. She should be protected in tht home, facilities given her to lessen tht 5 burden of responsibility placed upon hel 3 shoulders. She should have the recrea [ tion to which she is entitled and tht l conditions of her employment should bt ? such as to remove the thought of monot ony too often found in the home life O. the mother. But because the woman i. 4 entitled to and should be in the diguifet calling of home-makep, she ehoui0 no be discriminated against when necessit, l drives her to position outside her nat ural sphere.
 si A gradual realization of these tr.lth f | is spurring many individuals and organ f izations into programs of reform It i
 to the women's bureau that they turl
 for scientific and reliable information From all sections of the country s. o. S
 calls are dispatched for advice and as
 f
 institutions, industrial, economic, socia, k legislative, political, religious, civic an,
 educational come requests for informa
 tion.
 II hope that 1t will be possible to $
 organize the bureau that five thousan
 women will be in the field carrying O
 the gospel of what should be tfIe idea
 social and industrial condition of wome ; in relation to our national life perhap PI not on 8 salary basis as agents of tn
 government but workers in their respet
 tive communities-women forming tn It best of our citizenry who would throue V the agency of the womenas organiza
 lions, mothers teachers, and other asse
 ciations help to carry the gospel of bel + Ter conditions for women, and particu = lsriy mothers, which the womens bl le reau should spread. If they only req
 before such organizations a paper COT
 tainlng a message from the governmer n for their encouragement and benef 0t such cooperation would be helpful t- The spread of the activities of the VI
 mems bureau into network througho,
 the country Is largely the result of ", s mems Quickened interest in irdustri; ,,, conditions for women. Her new politic, 7 status has been used as a stronghold f
 safeguarding women wage-earners. W,
 men are now in positions of authority
 the state departments of labor of Ss states and in the District of Colun,Df p also in minor positions in Is othi to states In such ways the state goyerl
 nents are joining with the federal go
 ernment in emphasizing the need f. t. making industry safe for won1anhood ,I America.