Should Husbands Work?

When Joe Higgins learns that J. B. Barnes is about to take over the firm for which he works, Taylor Cosmetics, Joe fears that he will lose his job. He grumbles to his wife Lil that if Barnes knew that Taylor has been losing clients he would not want the merger to occur, and she confides the information to Mrs. Barnes. Unknown to Lil, at the same time Barnes is offering Joe a position as his general manager in Chicago. Joe is thrilled about the promotion and his son Sidney is also elated, as news of the merger has driven up the price of his Taylor stock, which means he can afford to marry his sweetheart Myrtle. Joe's jubilation is short-lived, however, when Barnes cancels the merger because of Lil's information. Taylor, who suspects the bewildered Joe, then fires him. Sid's happiness is also short-lived when the next day he discovers that his stock has tumbled and he and Myrtle can no longer wed. Sid has lost his job at Taylor as well, and Myrtle, who had given up her apartment, is forced to move into the Higgins home. Joe and Sid look for jobs, but as a month passes it becomes clear that there are too many men looking for too few jobs. One day, Joe meets Barnes, who offers him a job in his new factory if Joe can convince the board of directors to hire him at their meeting the next morning. Joe goes home and spends hours telling Lil about his ideas for new cosmetics. That night, Sid's snoring drives Joe out to sleep in the family's trailer, and early the next morning, Joe inadvertantly joins son Tommy and grandpa Ed Carson on their fishing trip as they drive off in the trailer. While Joe is rushing back to town, Lil goes to the meeting to tell the directors about Joe's ideas. It is Lil with whom they are impressed, however, and the board, convinced that no one can sell cosmetics like a woman, hires her as the general manager of La Higgins Toiletries. As the months pass, Lil, daughter Jean and Myrtle pursue their careers while the Higgins men grudgingly tend the house. One day, Barnes tells Lil that famous movie actor Ronald McDonald has agreed to publicize their new products at their sales convention. At the convention, Lil prepares her new shampoo to demonstrate on the "million dollar locks" of McDonald. She has badgered Joe all along to share his cosmetic expertise but he has refused, and her inexperience finally brings about her downfall when the shampoo causes McDonald's hair to fall out. When the bald actor sues Barnes, Barnes then sues the Higginses. Barnes' company is now in danger of bankruptcy and must merge with Taylor's company. Taylor is delighted with the new situation, but is frustrated when he cannot purchase the last ten shares of voting stock which he needs to complete the deal. The stock belongs to Sid, and Taylor offers Joe a job if he can get it. Joe rushes to the Higgins' home, only to discover that Sid and Myrtle have left to elope. After several obstacles are overcome, Joe gets the stock. All ends well as Sid and Myrtle marry, the Higgins men go to work and the women return to running the household.