The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-14
WONENATTACk
BIRTH CONTROL
] FOR WORKERS
Catholic Council Demands
Legal Reforms to Protect
Sex From Losing Situations
SEEK TO GUARD FAMILIES
Proposal to Teach Wives in
sif Industry Physical Secrets
4. Stirs Much Opposition

Cox Birth control should not be
made the price Of a job.
This protest was emphatically
voiced by Mrs. T. M. Molanphy,
Of the National Council of Cath
'Olic Women, at the Women's In
dustrial Conference, which con-
-scluded its three-day session here
yesterday.
MEETS OPPOSITION.
Birth control had been advocated
as means for Safeguarding the
position Of the married women in
industry, and it met with q noisy
reception.
- The council decided:
- As long as man and woman
have q different responsibility in
= Producing the offspring OF the
human race there can be no sane
:: excuse for sex equality In labor
and legislation.
s Even though the women have
the ballot and consider them
araselves the equal of men, there
must still be a distinction or
limitation in the physical abili.
Is ties Of women to perform manual
labor.
ACSO uk8O0 S1kAQOBA -
:. the medium OF legislation In the
various States and through Con-
csgressional enactment:
.s A period of rest before and
after childbirth for the sake Of
both mother and child;
80. No lid labor as It is now un.
derstood. Schooling for children
lip to sixteen years of age that
they may attain better mental
and physical development;
A forty-eight-hour week with
one days rest in ,sevens because
women workers must also be
home makers;
The examinations Of night work;
Entire elimination OF home
work on the ground that it is
calculated to lower wages of
those working in Industrial plants;
Proper sanitary conditions In
fe1tories and mercantile estab-
hehments;
Minimum wage laws until Wom-
IN are able through organization
70 secure better wages for them
selves; -
wori<menss compensation which
shall provide ample compensation
Tor both men and women;
Widows pensions which shall
give TO the mother or guardian
OF children ADEQUATE allowance
during school years;
Rehabilitation OF both men ana
women who are victims of indus.
trial accidents.
CITES DAVIS FAMILY.
In support of her views on birth
control Mrs. Molanphy cited Secre.
tary OF Labor James J. Davis and
his family as examples OF what the
condemned practice might deny the
race. She said:
Mr.. Davis was an immigrant.
His mother was an IMMIGRANT
ana she raised her family in the
noblest OF American homes, in.
sitting ideals and love Of home.
The Catholic women stand for
every thing that viii be an aid to
women In industry, but on this
one point 1t is firm in It's stand
Of centuries.
Besides the birth control problem
sthe discussions hinged on the dues
uon OF whether women workers are
now well enough organized into
trade unions to bargain with their
employers for reforms in worlina
conditions, or whether their new
political strength could best be used
go gain the end desired.
men ana women may be, and
eve believe they should be, equal
POLITICALLY and Intellectually, but
-1YhysfoIogically, organfcaIly, they diff.
Ter, declared Mrs. James J. Dewitt
1of the Iowa State Federation OF
Women's Clubs. mo one, barring
perhaps the medical profession, is
quite so cognizant Of this fact as
woman herself"
Miss Melinda Scott, delegate from
the United Textile Workers, de.
elared that until the women are
strong and capable Of securing bet.
ter conditions for themselves 1t is
the duty of the Government to see
that they have such protection
The lack of opportunity for the
woman worker to secure education.
she said, was responsible for failure
20 initiate the necessary reforms,