The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-08


mon scei. ty snd the individual.
These questions, as TO individual re-
snopsibih,y csn oemost clearly ans~er-
ed by the economists themselves. Prof.
P,t,en the moss learned sulhority on
cocsumption in America says: The
principle upon which the Consumers
Lasaue is based, is sound. | have great
fsi.h in educating the consumer, and in
the social changes which higher type
will bring.
The producer is merely an agent of
the consumer, snd if the latter IS per
sistent in demsndiDg better things and
condi.iors, society will be at length re-
modelled aud transformed.'
President Hadley Of Isie says: "As
years 60 oD, / am more snd mere i'm
pressed with the idea that economic re
form is likely to come through the ageu-
cy> of the consumer, rather than from
anv other source"
From GerAsn school we read: The
producing man is essentially the ser
want of TIE consuming man, and the f.
nal dire ction of industry lies with
the consumers. And again, The In
dustrial world IS our servant, and like
any good servant is only fcrestslling our
wishes"
Suoh conclusions, from such authori-
ties prove that the Consumer is the clea-
tor. The artistic hoot-msker, who ad-
m!res the nc1msl foot, hates to make
the pointed high heelsd boot, but his
customers demand this style and. his du
ty is to serve them. If the public did
not read the yellow journals. their pu
blleation would soop cease. The Audi
bon Society is teaching women the cruel
folly Of wearing birds on their hats, aud
SO t1e preservation Of birds is accom-
plished.
The stores are vely sensitive to the
demands of the buyer. They keep N
stock what you ask for. II then, the
merchsnsis is so keenly alive to the Thims
of every class Of buyers, would he not
be more so to the inslslent intelligent
demands Of ID educated public? And
so the league purposes to educate this
public, the Sc every dsy consumers, by
meetiogs, by lectures, by leaflets, and
by systematic investigation. l. must
be made plain thst the consumers hope
to move on very slowly at first, from
sWess-shop corditious 70 such factory
industries SIS exist uodtr the humane
laws cf some Northern States. ltmust
also be made plain TO all classes thai fac
tory made products are not more expen-
sige rhao sSeat shop gooGs. The league
is not q movement against cbeapness as
cheapness The modern factory with
labor saving appliances can produce
cheaper articles, even With hightr Esgcs
and shorter hours, than cone from tene
nent Industries. A great vsr;ety Of
goods can be traced directly to the best
paid workers. Would no. such prices
as hemstitched hankerchiefs for FIVE
cents. flush, knee pants for twenty FIVE
cents, sud trimmed corset covers for
eight cents, satisfy even the most per
sis:ent bargain seeker IN town.
TIE next question is, DO We need the
league in South Carolina? Are We ready
for such an organization or can this work
be carried on with cur Club work as it is
in other places? Ia this State, We do
lot frd such extremes Of wealth and
poverty ss We see in other States.
There are no sweat-sbops. Our mer-
chants, as 8 general rule, sll live up to
the standard Of 8 Fair house. Itssems
to me that primarily in this State the
movement which I have attempted to
describe must take the form Of CO.
operative educational movement.
Two years ago, when Markam's won.
derful poem "The Man with the Hoe"
was first published, I heard it most
effectively reclted in sermon to
teachers by Mr.. Kershaw of Charleston.
His sympathetic rendition brought out
all the points Of the poem, aud the
patience, the psthos, the hopelessaess
of it all made me very uncomfortable.
My summer vacation was not all rest,
and so went to very wise friend,
who can always help me, aud said, II
wish Mr.. Kersbaw had left that poem
alone. I can't forgot it, snd yet, what
is there that can do?' he answer
ed "Psy your cook more money.
That's about the only, point at Hhich
the problem touches you" And this
is the essence ofthe spirit Of the league.
1t is the Golden Rule IS spilled to
social economics.
, In this education, We must tesch
ourselves to want" right things, right
ly made. We must learn where and
how to buy SO that the ''Sosg Of the
Shirt" will become mere memory of a
sad picture of by-gone days. We must
learn, + very hard lesson for US women
Of frugal minds to svoid the bargain
table, which is as We all know, mere
advertising scheme, and is filed gene
rally with sweat. shops goods made
specially for this clearance sale.
While We are learning these things
Ourselves, we must teach our merchants
the object of the league. Teach them
gha. Fair House is. Teach them the
use Of the lsbel, and call persistently
for lsbeled goods. Patronize those
houses, which pay the highest wages
and which think that work we'll done
by woman is worth just as much as if
done by a man. Support them in the
earlyclosing movement, and urge the
observance of sll holidays, You will
find in these shops, the best servi,e,
and the best "chespness."
And next I come to class of which
I know not how TO speak. It is by far
the largest class Of tOiIers in this State
that needs our help. Ireeer to the
children of the cotton mills. / know
1t is not popular subject. We scarce
ly dare a!lude to il in our club-there
are so nsny mill presidents il Spartan
burg and tney have SO many relatives
realize that there are many sides to