Evening star., 1923-05-03

When Mrs. Thomas G. Winter, presi-
dent of the American Federation OF
women's Clubs, was speaking, upon
the occasion Of laying the foundation
Of the replica Of Home. Sweet Home,
in this city, she said that IL all the
work done by the housewives Of
America we're paid for it would cost
some SO, 900, 100000 a year. Just what
was the basis of that estimate was
not explained, but in view of Samuel
Gompers' present efforts to unionize
the women who are employed in
stores and factories in Washington.
wage Of $16 a week, 1t would be in
teresting for Mrs. Winters and Mr..
Gompers to get together.
In case they do, either Mr.. Com
pers will lower his flag or the cost
Of competent housewives Will go up.
X
A housewife is not an underling-a
clerk who trembles at the tap of pen
Gil on counter by the floorwalker. She
is head OF her department, and she is
privileged to call the "foorwalker"
down whenever he needs it. There
fore. she cannot be counted at the
minimum union scale Of SIG week
not she.
She works long hours-so long that
even the employees of the steel trust.
with their seven-day shifts Of twelve
hours each. do not exceed her hours
eighty-four hours a week-as con-
trasted with the forty-four hours of
most office employees. Two weeks in
one for the housewife. II the ribbon
counter clerk, therefore, is to get
SIG for forty-four hours-by the same
rate per hour the mother with d fam
lily to look after must not work for
less than $40. That Is the same rate
per hour ir;,,, regardless Of the greater
quired OF the mother
On the basis OF 11o,0o0.0o0 popula-
tion, and four to the family, there are
about 27.000.000 families in America
Allowing for some without mothers
or housekeepers. where the job of
matron is worth as much per hour as
that Of clerk in any store, hence al
S1.560 per year, the total bill must
be $4,000. .000,000-not the paltry $10.-
600. 900, 900 which Mrs. Winter estimated
We are not ruined by Chinese
cheap labor"--it is by our own women
holding their services, as mothers, too
cheap.
May 5 will be Mothers day. What
would be the fate Of the world, il,
dissatisfied with her compensation or
her hours. she should decide to strike
on and after that day until the world
sNowed her f,IIar o,nrac;ot tio,1 wb =,
should she work at the rate Of a mere
$40, 900, 100000 a year, when she is
worth nearly four times that much
even at the rate paid the ribbon coun-
ter clerk. That is less than $I25 a
day.
Strike. mothers. for your altars and
your fires! Are you not working for
about half the price you pay your
washerwoman and sweeper who
comes in and works eight hours?
Have not the bakers Of Washington
as you are getting per day-even If
you get 1t? Can they bake as we'll as
you? Can they pace the floor with 6
sick child as faithfully as you do? II
all the mothers would "organize," the
men would take to the woods. But
lnerS dre Ilot "OoOS enough 10 cover
them. All. now 1t is clear why we
hear so much talk about reforesta-
ton. Homemakers might organize
and strike.
WHO won the war;" The men who
stayed last on the field of battle, OF
course. The last detachment
twenty-seven men-has just arrived
home. These are positively the last
American soldiers of the world war
left in Europe, though one is entitled
to be a little skeptical, since "the
last homecoming troops" have ar
rived about as frequently as the late
Sarah Bernhardts farewell tours.
X X y
1t is most astonishing how hardy
the present years products of babies