o the little children being stunted mentally
and physically in our mills and factories, if these thousands of
young women, many of them enjoying the wealth made out of these
little human souls, refused to wear or buy anything made under
any but decent living conditions! Think what it would mean if
they decided that every child should have a seat in school, that
every neighborhood should have a play-ground and a public bath!

Too long the men and women of leisure and education in America
have left the administration of our public affairs to fall into
the hands of a class whose conception of the duties involved in
public service is of the lowest order.... Instead of being
regarded as only fitted for women of ordinary position and
intellect, all offices such as superintendents of reformatories,
matrons and women factory inspectors, should be filled by women
of standing, education, refinement and independent means. Such
women would be above the temptation of graft or the fear of
losing their positions. They are on a social footing with the
manufacturers and no mill or factory owner likes to meet the
factory inspector at a reception or dining in the home of a
mutual friend if he is trying to evade the law. American women of
leisure must awaken to an appreciation of the democratic idea of
Noblesse Oblige.

Mrs. Blatch was introduced as "president of the Self-Supporting
Women's Suffrage League and the only one in it who was not
self-supporting in the accepted sense of the term." "When I hear that
there are 5,000,000 working women in this country," said Dr. Shaw, "I
always take occasion to say that there are 18,000,000 but only
5,000,000 receive their wages." Mrs. Blatch traced the changes of the
years which have made it necessary for women to go out of the home to
earn their bread in factory, shop and mercantile establishments.
"Cooperation is the only way out of the present condition of the
working women," she asserted. "President Thomas said last night that
the gates of knowledge had swung wide open for women. They have not
done so for the working girls." She pointed out the many opportunities
for the boys to learn the trades which are denied to the girls. "There
is only one way to redress their wrongs and that is by the ballot,"
she declared, and in closing she said: "Of all the people who block
the progress of woman s