u8 On the Campus 



enough from his earnings to see himself and family 

 properly fed and clothed and sheltered, all at the same 

 time ! What can women 's clubs do with a case like this ? 

 Two things: first, find out the facts in specific cases; 

 and second, report the facts ; study them and aid, if pos- 

 sible, scholars and employers alike, who are striving in 

 school and factory, in office and in mine, in legislative 

 halls, to bring about a happier condition. 



It is said that the minimum annual wage on which a 

 sober laboring man may live decently at this moment and 

 care for an economic wife and three children, sending 

 these to school, is eight hundred and twenty-five dollars. 

 One-fourth of the laborers in this country fall below 

 this minimum. The situation makes one sick at heart. 

 The women of Minnesota can do so much, have done so 

 much, will they not, as opportunity offers, help also in 

 this particular field until in every community, to the 

 largest extent possible, every man of toil can stand erect, 

 proud of his own self-respect, his children able to share 

 on equal terms with those of his employer in all the 

 privileges of the public schools, and the opportunities 

 to which these open the gates on every side ? The con- 

 ditions are right; they will at last, they must at length, 

 prevail. Only so shall the Republic, the Common- 

 wealth, be safe. 



I have spoken of legislative action ; nine States of the 

 Union have now minimum wage laws. Minnesota is on 

 the list. Every women's club in Minnesota should have 

 a copy of this law and know the situation. 



And so, in conclusion, I come back to the original pro- 

 gramme of Sorosis. I think I have shown you that it is 



