Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-08-06
THE CONSUMERS LEAGUE.
what sensible woman,s Organization

What "A Sensible woman's Organization
i Doing for shop Girls.
A little over year ago a mass meeting
was held AT Chickering hall under the
auspices Of the Working Women's society
for The purpose of establishing what is now
known ~ the Consumers league, an or
ganization declaring its object to be Ito
smeliorate the condition of the women and
children employed in the retail mercantile
houses of this city by patronizing so far as
practicable only such houses as approach
in their conditions to the 'stardard of a
fair house rs adopted by the league, anG
by other methods"
The principal officers of the league are
Mrs Charles Russell Lowell president;
Mrs Charles S. Spofford, treasurer; Miss
Caldwell, recording secretary, and Mrs.
Robert V. Mckim, corresponding secre-
tary: and these women have succeeded
during their twelve months of Office in rem
dering very efficient aid to women en-
ployed in shops.
For time it was up hill work. first, to
induce employers to believe that they were
treating their employees badly, and then to
elicit from them promise to change their
methods: but business men are not unjust
anu DdTu Heartfelt, anu Ouc ny ouC bHCg
gradually showing their willingness to see
the matter in the right light.
Besides. large number of women in
New York who do much shopping have
put their shoulders to the wheel in order
to force out of existence this form of OPP
preston to shop employees, and this action
has even more weight with the shopmen,
strange as it may SEEM than has the moral
side of the questionable awakening to the
sense of injustice.
The names of few of the firms were to
be had at once, and these were issued by
the Consumers league in the shape of a
"wIite list" for the benefit of the shoppers
interested iR the reform. This list is being
added TO each month, and it is hoped in the
end that all the retail establishments will
sign the paper.
The standard of fair house" is Zone in
which equal pay is given for work of equal
value, irrespective of sex; in the depart
ments where women only are employed,
in which the minimum wages are six
dollars per week for experienced adult
workers, but fall in few instances be-
low eight dollars. in which wages are
paid by the week: in which fines, if inn
posed, are paid into II fund for the benefit
Of the employees; in which the minimum
wages Of cash girls are two dollars per
week, with the same conditions regarding
weekly payments and fines; in which
the hours from a. m To p. M with
three-quarters Of an hour for lunch) con-
stitute a working day, and general
half holiday is given on one day of each
week during at least two summer months;
in which vacation of not less than one
week is given with pay during the summer
season; in which all overtime is compensate
ed for; in which work. lunch and retiring
rooms are apart from one another, and con-
form in all respects to the present sanitary
laws; in which the present law regarding
the providing of seats for saleswomen is
observed and the use of seats permitted;
in which humane and considerable be-
havior toward employees is the rule; in
which fidelity and length Of service meet
with consideration which is their due; in
which no children under fourteen years OF
age are employed"
No one who reads these rules will find
anything unreasonable in them. On the
contrary, even the woman who has borne
resentment in her heart toward this or that
clerk because of having been treated by
her with indifference or disrespect will not
wish her to be cared for in less humane
manner than this paper demands.
In the constitution adopted by the Con-
sumers league the condition of member
ship is the approval by signature of the OBJ
ject of the league, all persons being eligi-
BILE excepting such as are engaged in the
retail business in New York.-New York
World.