Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 211, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1918 — Women Are Now Enjoying the Greatest Opportunity in History of Business [ARTICLE]

Women Are Now Enjoying the Greatest Opportunity in History of Business

By JAMES O. CRAIG,

President of Business Men’s Clearing House, Chicago

The rapid adaptation of women to business, made necessary by the government’s “work-or-fight” order, is the source of real encouragement to Chicago employers. After a period of gloom directly following the issuance of the order employers have come to the realization that men are no longer indispensable. Nor is the woman for stenographic, clerical and so-called “minor” office duties alone. The woman executive has come into her own. Our women’s department within the last few weeks has placed a large number of high-grade women in executive and semi-executive positions, and the women placed are responding to the satisfaction of the employers. Moreover, women are succeeding in traveling sales work to a far greater extent than ever expected. This branch of the distribution force was hit unusually hard by the draft and enlistment of traveling salesmen, and for a time, until' the experimenting with women began to produce worth-while results, the outlook was seripus for a number of firms who get their goods before buyers through personal solicitation. The success of traveling saleswomen is perhaps the most encouraging result of the present readjustment. The inexperienced woman is enjoying the greatest opportunity in the history of business. More unskilled beginners have entered the Chicago business field in the past month or so than in any years of our business history. Employers report entire satisfaction with the use of this class of office help. ■ m The novelty of the new. situation is gradually wearing away. Travelers no longer express surprise when, upon registering at a hotel, they are confronted by a woman desk clerk, nor are women elevator operators an unusual sight; several Chicago hotels have in successful operation these innovations. , The demand for high-grade men is as heavy as ever, bookkeepers and other forms of higher office force being in especial demand. Manufacturing concerns are badly in need of various classes of technical men and unskilled help. At present business is in the midst of its readjustment and the situation will remain unsettled until some time after the “work-or-fight” order is in effect.