Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24

force of its man power. Mechanical
robots may be increasing In number
and cleverness, but it will be. many
years, If ever, before we can dispense
with human fingers and human brains
And even then some one Will nave 10
make the robots and keep them run
ming! Certainly this is condition that
our generation will never see.
Women workers in industry have
been especially subject to the whims or
lack of care Of backward employers,
largely because they have been the
cheapest and most helpless group in the
labor market. Their situation, as that
of all labor, has gradually grown better,
through the efforts of the unions, TO
standards set by progressive employers,
and to legislation, but much remains TO
be done.
AT this time, when SO much empha-
sis is being laid upon the elimination OF
waste In every nook end corner OF our
business and industrial organizations,
would seem unnecessary TO say thal
consideration for these points / nave
mentioned would be paramount. And
vet the Women's Bureau, in It's studies
in many thousands of plants throughout
the country, can report only a compare
tive few that have well developed per-
sonnet departments, where the human
side of the organization receives careful
and trained attention. In too many
places the employer turns the handing
of the worker over to his foreman, ana
then bears down so heavily for produc-
ton returns that the foreman mas no
choice but to drive the men and women
under him to the limit OF endurance
Even If these lesser bosses were trained
for the handling of personnel, when
- elH h0
responsible for it-there should be a
definite centralized policy operating
throughout the company. Those en-
ployers who have had the far-sightsd-
ness to establish such a system are the
first to testify to its effectiveness ana to
its results in increased efficiency and
more and better output.
Time and again, for example, stud
les made by technical experts nave
shown that production during an 8-hOur
day, with the workers contented ano
unfatigued, is in excess OF that turned
out in 10-hour day or longer. Where
is the intelligenoe-or to put 1t more
biuntly-the common sense In keeping
men and women shut inside a factory
for hours that they might be giving to
home and community life, with benefit
to all concerned?
THE same thing is true of wages. Mr..
Ford has proven this in his use OF the
higher wage scale. When the worker
has more money ne moves into the buy
er class. Instead Of being on the edge
of poverty, he and his wife and family
are able to live with some degree OF
comfort and in consequence provide
market for the goods that the manu-
facturer is continually worrying nova
days about selling. In addition to de-
Veloping new markets abroad, We should
give thought to the great potential one
here at home, waiting only for Iair
wages to make it possible. Again, this Is
only common sense. The pay envelope
is the boundary of life for most Of US.
Finally, it goes without saying that
good conditions in the plant make for
good community conditions all around.
Contrast the man or woman who must
work in a dirty, badly lighted, badly
ventilated, unsafe shop with those VINO
spend their days In modern daylight
factory, clean, comfortable, full OF air
and sun, with proper seats, good drink-
ing water and excellent sanitary de-
vices which do you think comes out at
the days end the better citizen? Wmcn
do you think keeps the better home?
Which do you think helps keep up the
level of the community's health? 1t is
worth thinking about.
X X y
n NEMBERS of the General Fedora
AVA ton of Women's Clubs are offered
an opportunity to enrich their individual
club treasures by securing subscriptions
to the General Federation News, the Of
fetal organ. Prizes viii be awarded the
club turning in the greatest number of
based on its club member
ship, the first prize being $3.50 and the
lowest SIS.
Decided Improvement In the general
editorial policy of the magazine during |
the past year or two, as we'll as IN The
makeup, have enhanced its value TO
club members who are interested in |
activities of national and International
scope. Further improvements are now
being launched in the way of more !
feature stories, illustrations and special
articles.
In addition, interesting cover designs
will be featured, beginning with the eur
rent issue. which presents new and
striking likeness of Mrs. Herbert Hoover.
Each succeeding month the photograph
Of a. woman prominent in club and
world affairs will appear on the cover.
X X X
TEACHERS and professors are play
= ing an important part in combat
ing outworn ideas about the inferiority
of women, according to Miss Mabel
Vernon. executive secretary of the Ma
tionai Woman's Party. In her speech
Wednesday at the University of Mary
land before a class of $50 students
studying problems of citizenship.
Research reveals absolutely no evil
dence of differences between men and
women in innate capacity" said Miss
Vernon. Teachers of scientific mind
and training are, therefore, no longer
planting the old notions of sex differ
ence in the minds of boys and girls,
but are getting rid of ideas of women's
inferiority," continued Miss Vernon.
These ideas have no foundation except
in prejudice and tradition, and are
refuted by the work which women ac-
compliSh when greater social and eco
nomic freedom is given them
Mrs. Jane Norman Smith of New
York, chairman of the National Coun-
ell of the National Weman's PARTY. is