Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1756-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL
Newspaper Page Text
wages and vice are closely .related. The natural attraction -of sex- is to them a reasonable explanation for so cial evils. They point to the fact that women in all walkspf life women above want--womep. cf-4)eauty and Trounty women with health and wealth women whose only worry is to find a way to spend their time and money go astray in greater propor tion, than the shop girls struggling with the problem of long hours and low wages. Admitting their contention as cor rect, is it hot far preferable that a woman be prnitted to follow the in stinct of a healthy, satisfied nature, by choice, rather than be forced into a life of shame through necessity forced upon her by greed? JL woman surrounded with happi ness and luxury, consuming rich food, likely develops the senses lead ing to the forbidden acts of society i more rapidly and to a greater, extent than those who are poorly fed and overworked. Hence a comparison be tween these two does not disprove the -statement that low wages and long hours are strong factors in the 'moral degradation of our working women. But whether it is true or not. no one -should seriously proclaim that a -working girl should not be given, ev ery -opporunity and assistance to per mit her to remain good if so inclined, and not-to be forced hy sheer neces sity to give even a smile, much less sell her virtue to provide the neces sary comforts of Ef-a. Society imposes upon women a moral standard of conduct which the. average underpaid wageHPorking wo man can only maintain-by heroic self denial, and if through her enforced 'weakness andr necessities she fails, society consoles her with severe con demnation. , - Society assumes the right to fix her morah-standard, but refuses to assist her in securing conditions by and through 'which that standard might be upheld. In this emergency the sleeves, clears the "deck and takes-up the voyage where society abandons the ship. -With the assistance of the trades union the women can and will suc ceed. It permits them to meet the test In it they learn their duties and obligations, their right and therr might, how to secure it and how to fhqintfltn it Society may propose, but a good trades union will dispose. That these organizations of "wo men are doing an immense amount of good, not only for themselves but for mankind in general, needs'no ar, gumemV The good women are here and organized. Among'them may be women, in the boot and shoe trade, the Dinding girls, the box-makers, the garment workers, the necktie makers, the pocketbook makers, the stenographers, straw and felt hat workers, suspender workers, teach ers' federation, women's central bodies and many others all skilled and drilled. These organizations have the "will and the force and intelligence to do and to dare. For this reason I sug gest that these various "women's or ganizations be given the fund to be used for the erection of a women'.s labor temple, where they can meet, plan and voice their needs and wants; where rest may be furnished the weary, and the pangs of worry be soothed and lessened, and the dread of hunger removed, and where life and hope will be inBtiHed in the minds and hearts of those laden with sor row, and their present made worth while. Let them have the means to erect a modest, sanitary, fireproof temple, dedicated to the women .workers of Chicago, and it wiQ be a monument whose sentiment and purpose will be more lasting and give greater im portance and inspiration to the good women and men of Chicago of today hand the days to come, than anything done in the past to perpetuate the glories and grandeur of the World's rfcaaes-a&n-jnffifflejaE rogs -up .its Fata. Very truly. F..Q.H,