Workers

Three years ago the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor called a conference of women in industry. Last week the second such conference assembled in the new National Museum at Washington.

Some 150 women's organizations were represented, not a very large number considering that according to the census of 1920 about one in every five persons "gainfully employed" is a woman--that is to say, there are more than eight million women workers in this country. At the meeting were women teachers, lawyers, salesclerks, office workers, factory workers., Government employes, representatives of the American Federation of Labor, of the International Typographical Union, of the Boot and Shoe Worker's Union, of the United Garment Workers, of the United Textile Workers, of the Women's Trade Union League, etc., etc.

Addresses by President Coolidge and Secretary of Labor James J. Davis were read to the meeting-- addresses which laid stress on the welfare of working mothers. Mr. Davis declared:

"Whenever we see women at work we must think of them in terms of motherhood.

"More than 8,000,000 women are engaged in gainful occupations in this country, and of these two-fifths are under 25 years of age. That means that not far from one-half of the women workers today are young, with their lives not only as workers but as mothers wholly before them to be made or marred by the conditions under which they live and work. Nearly two millions of women wage earners are already married, not including those who are widowed, and divorced or separated. . . .

"I am forever and unalterably opposed to the employment of women in any such manner as will destroy or even endanger their future motherhood." The chief excitement during the sessions was caused by the supporters of the National Woman's Party. This group advocates an amendment to the Constitution to the effect that "men and women shall have equal rights throughout the U. S. and every place subject to its jurisdiction"--which among other things would invalidate the legal restrictions on hours of work, the minimum wage, etc., for women unless the restrictions were made to apply to both men and women. The Party contends that the type of special legislation raising the standards for employment of women really tends to injure women in industry--put them out of jobs, hinder their promotion, etc. The greater part of the delegates to the conference, especially the group representing organized labor, are opposed to the National Woman's Party stand.

Each group sent a delegation to see the President and both came away apparently satisfied. On the floor of the conference Miss Gail Laughlin, a San Francisco lawyer, proposed a resolution ousting the regular program for one morning and permitting the Woman's Party group to voice their arguments. Pandemonium at once broke forth. Miss Mary Anderson, head of the Women's Bureau (a onetime immigrant who began her career as a garment worker), pounded in vain for order. At length the resolution was voted on and she declared it lost. Later, however, a special evening session was held to hear arguments on each side, and finally a compromise motion was passed: "Whereas equality for men and women in industry is a controversial matter now before Congress and the state legislatures, be it "Resolved, That this conference, called together under the auspices of the United States Department of Labor, recommends that the Women's Bureau make a comprehensive investigation of all the special laws regulating the employment of women, to determine their effects."