South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-05-24
ASSERTS WOMAN'S
PLACE NO LONGER
LIMITED TO HOME
Miss O'Keefe Says Women
Share Business and Political
Responsibilities.

ELKHART. Ind. May 23.-That
woman's place IS no longer limit
ed 10 the home. since she has a
responsibility toward the thousands
OF woman wage earners through
out the country, was the keynote
declaration OF Miss Esther O'Keefe.
democratic nominee for represent
alive OF 18th Indiana district, here
Tuesday night before a large audi
ence at the Y. VI. c. A.
In this age Of progress when
woman is sharing the social res
possibilities with men IN business
as we'll as in politics, Miss O'Keefe
declared. the old theory that wom-
an is not fit for office has been
thoroughly discarded.
Women in industry have travel
led a long road since the colonial
days when they not only baked
the food. but weaved and spun
clothing for the family. Today
with thousands OF her sisters she
does her spinning and weaving IN
some common building set aside for
the purpose, verify today she IS
called faCtOrF-W
The real reason why she works
IS because necessity demands It.
II has always been true that only
a small proportion OF men, could
by their unaided efforts support the
entire family in this country. At 10
time IN our history have all the men
been able 10 support all the women
regardless Of whether this would
be a desirable situation
Experts fix the living wage that
will enable a man TO support a
wife and family without entering
industry at s1700 a year Today
there are in America S.075.772
women IN industry.
"Everywoman has something TO
do with working women for she
buys and wears what they make
and she enjoys leisure that without
their efforts would he imT Ossible.
THE proper use Of leisure by
the average American woman, a
leisure OF which her grandmother
did not dream. is no more less
than a moral obligation.
"A few days ago we celebrated
! n
and one that is q fitting memorial TO
all womanhood. for every true
hearted woman possesses the gift of
mother-love. Regardless Of whether
this gift IS expressed in physical
form, for real flesh and blood chill
dren, II is expressed in transmitted
/ form in many wonderful ways for
which the old world Will forever be
/ the debtor.
! "A woman whose life work is an
outstanding example Of this is Jane
1 Adams, the children-mother OF
( thousands.
Through mother love is woven
the incompatible qualities of gentle
ness, OF rare understanding. OF un-
/ daunted vision, Of genuine charity,
and tender sym pathy. These are the
qualities for which the weary. war
crushed world is hungry today as
/ expressed in terms of generous serv-
ice.
This, I believe is our high task
+ as business and professional women.
our mission in the business of earn
ing a living. Through the unstinted
giving OF these qualities. regardless
| of where our path may lie, can we
earn the right 70 live in this beauti-
full old world, with the hope always
/ before us of making 1t still more
beautiful.
Not by the emulaung Of qualities
! of men, nor by initiating masculine
success can we fulfill our mission.
but only BY carrying out the heaven
born gift of womanliness from our
own homes into the larger civic
home. so that its influence shall
touch thousa nds Of lives for the bet
4 ter ushering IN the dawn OF that
rev freedom that is, as yet, but a
misty dream in the heart OF man
J kind"
/ Miss O'Keefe was accorded a
warm reception in EIkhart during
her brief stay