Evening star., 1924-02-10

conditions under which she works
outside her home must be adapted to
her needs. We cannot go on de-
manding Of women that they be eff
cient on two jobs, each a full-time
job
This government expert points out
that there are four essentials which
must be allowed for in every work
ing woman's day. The first, of course.
is work; the second is more work, in
the form of home duties; the third
is rest, and the fourth is recreation
or education. Whether the average
woman in industry is able to make
the necessary allowances for these
items depends chiefly on one thing
the hours she must spend in the
factory.
In the United States factory hours
are regulated in many different ways.
Often it is the employer who decides
arbitrarily that a certain number of
hours shall constitute a days work.
Sometimes the workers take a hand,
through their organizations. and
make a definite agreement with the
employer as to how long they shall
work. More often. however, espe-
cially in the case of women, it is the
state itself which sets limit on the
length of the working day and week.
Long Hours Prevail in Some Places.
In spite of the constant efforts
which are being made by progressive
employers, by the workers and by
the authorities of the various states,
there are still places in this country
where women'S work begins at s
o'clock in the morning and lasts until
or o'clock at night. For the past
five years the women's bureau has
been collecting figures to show Just
what are the hours which women
work in industry, and sometimes its
agents report mills or factories where
the machinery is started shortly
after o'clock in the morning and is
not stopped for ten or even twelve
hours. When plants aer running over
time longer hours are worked
One mill was reported as starting
at 6 o'clock in the morning and dur
ing the busy season running until
|S or 8 o'clock at night Woman
workers who have to stand a strain
of this sort have little chance to
make of their lives anything but a
mere existence. An ambitious girl
may feel that she does not want to
be a factory worker all her life, but
once she gets into the grind of a ten
hour day in the factory there will be
no energy left for anything else.
Miss Anderson says this is the
reason SO many states have under
taken to regulate women's hours. 1t
is both uneconomic and unsocial to
let a woman be factory worker and
nothing else. Women are full-fiedged
citizens and are expected to do their
share in the, life of the community
They are largely responsible for the
high standards of health and edu-
cation by which the people of this
country set so much store, and the
states have recognized this fact and
are helping them to carry out their
responsibilities. :.<..
I'VE have the right to expect that
every woman in this land of ours
shall take her proper place as a cit
izen to help solve the problems of the
nation" says Miss Anderson. "But
| in order that she may do this it is
our duty and responsibility to help
her solve the problems confronting
her in her industrial life, and in her
home life, so that she may take her
place as a responsible citizen.
"In order that life may be freer
and filled with interest and under
standing for all, there must be less
| of the workers lives demanded by
industry and home obligations so
there will be more time and oppor-
tunity for education which will give
woman workers a chance to take an
Intelligent part in the affairs of the
hation.s s