55th Congress. ) HOUSE OP BEPBESENTATIVES. (Doc.>\j » ANo.n K J. A207. 3d Session. Part 4. BULLETIN OF THE NO. 23— JULY, 1899. ISSUED EVERY OTHER MONTH. EDITED BY CARROLL D. WRIGHT, COMMISSIONER. OREN W. WEAVER, CHIEF CLERK. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 180 9. Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis CONTENTS. Pago. The attitude of women’s clubs and associations toward social economics, by Ellen M. Henrotin............................................................................................ 501-545 The production of paper and pulp in the United States, from January 1 to J une 30, 1898.............................................................-......................................... 546-550 Digest of recent reports of State bureaus of labor statistics: Kansas ...• •.......................................................... 5o 1—553 Maine...................................... 553-555 Missouri................................................................................................................. 555, 556 Pennsylvania....................................................................................................... 557-559 West Virginia...................................................................................................... 559,560 Census of Massachusetts for 1895............................................................................ 561-567 Eleventh annual report of the board of mediation and arbitration of New York.......................................................................................................................... 568 Digest of .recent foreign statistical publications............................................... 569-574 Decisions of courts affecting labor.......................................................................... 575-615 Laws of various States relating to labor enacted since January 1, 1896........ 616-623 Recent Government contracts................................................................................. 624 ill Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis BULLETIN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. No. 23. WASHINGTON. J u l y , 1899. THE ATTITUDE OF WOMEN’S CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS TOWARD SOCIAL ECONOMICS. BY ELLEN M. HENKOTIN. By means of clubs and societies women have of late years endeav­ ored to secure fuller social life and enlarged opportunities for study and usefulness. These organizations in the beginning were simple in form and usually literary or purely charitable in character, such sub­ jects as religion, suffrage, and political economy being carefully shunned. Friendly intercourse and self-improvement were the objects sought. The clubs increased rapidly in size and importance. In small com­ munities they, together with the strictly religious societies, represented in the life of their members the only social and intellectual activities in reach, while in large cities, where the population is too great for the churches to maintain any tie of acquaintance among those who frequent them, these secular gatherings fostered social relations and opened up endless lines of personal endeavor. The next demand of the club members was to enlarge the scope of study and to apply the knowledge they had acquired to the practical affairs of life. Thus the department club came into being. The work was usually divided into two or more sections, as education, reform, philanthropy, home, art, science, literature, and philosophy. Better results could be obtained, it was found, by specializing the subjects of inquiry and making the aims more definite. As a natural conse­ quence the attempt to solve problems of one sort brought the women face to face with other questions equally vital and far-reaching. Grap­ pling with educational difficulties and starting school reforms disclosed many glaring evils that affected the children in each neighborhood, or the home in which they live, or the breadwinner on whom the child 501 Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 502 BULLETIN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. depends. Dispensing charity led to a more scientific view of philan­ thropy, which in turn opened up ail the field of industrial achievement and the part that women and children take in factory and mercantile life. The larger clubs plunged at once into many forms of public activity, and became a power for good in their respective communities, institut­ ing some reforms, indorsing others, and by direct and indirect influence championing better methods. They administered charities, carried on civic work in their neighborhood, increased the efficiency of the schools, secured better factory laws for workers, and helped to advance women to the positions of factory inspector, police matron, and school trustee. The clubs were also identified with many large movements, such as tenement-house reform, public parks and playgrounds, sanitation and cleanliness, and abolition of the sweating system. The single club, however influential, soon found its usefulness limited to its own locality, whereas help from other sections was often required to reach legislators and bring about much needed reforms. Therefore the more progressive club women soon realized that in combination lies strength not to be attained by any unit. The time was ripe for concert of action, cooperation in effort. In the middle States and New England the federation plan originated, the clubs forming first a State federa­ tion and then these State federations joined together into the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, with national officers and a national board. The General Federation brought about as fast as possible other State organizations, which in turn affiliated with the General Federation. At present thirty State federations are members of the General Federation, and in time no doubt the clubs of every State in the Union will band together and enter the national federation. A broader culture and more uniform and effective methods of work will result. As such a body of earnest and intelligent women must inevitably influence public opinion, their attitude toward economic and sociolog­ ical questions becomes important. For that reason the Commissioner of Labor addressed to all the women’s clubs on the lists of the General Federation and auxiliary State federations a circular letter with a schedule of inquiries in regard to any special study in social economics, or any practical work in this direction conducted or carried on by the club. This letter and schedule was also sent to many clubs not allied with the General Federation or the State federations. Every effort was made to obtain replies which would indicate the position of the women’s clubs of the country toward social economics. One thousand two hundred and eighty-three clubs responded to the circular letter. Many did not reply, but from the Federation clubs the answers came in gratifying numbers. To the first question—Is the study of sociology, political economy, or philanthropy pursued by your club?—431 responded in the affirmative. Nine clubs reported Digitized for FRASER http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/ Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis w o m e n ’s c l u b s a n d associations. 503 that these studies were not on the club programme, but that in the future the clubs intended to study civics and philanthropy. In answering the question—Does the club carry on xiractical work in all or any of the above lines?—425 clubs reported that practical work was carried on by the club in all or in one or two of these branches. One singular fact is manifest: The clubs which pursue the social- economic studies do not always report that they are engaged in prac­ tical work on these lines, while many clubs which are engaged in prac­ tical work of this sort do not jiursue the studies named. In answer to the question—Is this work the xirineipal one of the club, or is it auxiliary?—75 clubs replied that work in one or more of these branches is the principal occupation of the club, while 303 reported such work as auxiliary to the regular literary studies of the club. Other answers obtained throw light on the democratic influence of the clubs on their members. Thus, in reply to the question—Are work­ ing women members of your club?—350 clubs rex>orted in the affirma­ tive. This classification included women working in the x>rofessions, commerce, and the trades. To the question—Are there working girls’ clubs which are auxiliary to your club?—only 29 clubs replied that such auxiliary societies had been organized. In answer to the question—Is there a tendency among the working women in your locality to study these subjects?—338 clubs replied that the working women evince this tendency. Responding to the question—Which is preferable for work­ ing women, to enter existing clubs or to form separate organizations ?— 388 clubs stated that it is wiser for working women to enter existing organizations, while 423 clubs favored forming separate organizations. The writer addressed a letter to 12 of the clubs which favored form­ ing separate organizations and requested the reasons for this opinion. Six replied that their club met in the afternoon when working women could not attend; three replied that the work of the club took so much time that working women could not keep uj>