The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-05-02

J. tho standard Of Fair House. 1t seemf
Q to me that primarily In this State, the
i movement which I have attempted tC
describe must take the form OF a co.
Il operative educational movement.
Q Lwo years ago, when Markham's won:
was FIRST published, heard it most Of
iectively recitcd in sermon to teachers
, oy Mr. Kcrshaw, Of Charleston. His
sympathetic rendition brought out all
t tho points Of the poom, and the patience.
y the pathos, the hopelessness of it ali
made me very uncomfortable. My sum-
mer vacation was not all rest and 80
I went TO very wise friend, who can al
} ways help me, and said, II wish Mr.
hershaw had left that poem alono. l
cant forget 1T and yet, what Is there
@ tnat L can do!' He answered, "Pay
, tho only point at which tho problom
, touches you" And this Is the essence
Of tho spirit OF the League. 1t is the
Golden Rule as applied to social econom.
les.
In this education we must teach our
selves to "want" " right things, rightly
made. We must learn when and how to
buy, so that tho "Song Of the Shirt
picture Of by gone days. We must learn
IA very hard lesson for us women Of fru.
gal minds) to avoid tho bargain table,
which Is, as wo all know, mere adver-
tising scheme, and is filled generally
with swoat.shop goods made specially
Tor this clearance sale.
While we arc learning these things
ourselves we must toaCh our merchants
tho objects Of tho League. Teach them
what Fair House is, teach them the
use OF the label, and call pcrsistently for
labeled goods. Pa'ronizc those houses
which pay the highest wages and which
think that work we'll donc by a woman
Is worth just as much as if done by a
man. Support thom in tho carly closing
movement, and urge tho observance Of
all holidays. You will find in those
ss.hops tho best service and the best
" chcapncss."
And next come to a class Of which
know not how to speak. 1t is by far
the largest class Of toilers in this State
that needs our help. l refer to tho chill
drcn OF the cotton mills. know It Ia
not popular subject. We scarcely
dare alludo to it in our club, there are
30 many mill presidents in Spartanburg
aud they have 30 many relatives I
realize that there arc many sides to tho
question, and tho answers cannot be
found in day know tho OWLS Of la.
Dor laws. In fact, have not very much
faith in Legislatures composed OF moro
men when 1t comes to socialistic uues-
tions. But tho children arc In tho mills
working eleven hours day These
children arc growing into mon and wo-
men juc' as our children arc, and they
cannot write their names. In a iury OF
twelve men, drawn from ono of our city
mills last month, nine Of tho jurors had
to make their mark. These are Ameri-
can citizens, grown up under this won-
dcrfui CIVILIZATION, which, having ac-
complishcC such wonderful things for
its own, is aecking to onlightep tho ut.
tcrmost parta Of tho earth. In @ few
years they will coaso to be citizens, for
the ballot box will bo denied all illitor-
atCs
Low con Tho Consumers' League
touch this class? Tho samo answer Ia
given. BY education. Commence at tho
top, and educate the mill presidents. If
all presidents were like your own Ellison
Smyth. James L. Orr, LOWS Parker and
dliiicult. They have made a fine beginn-
ing in establishing free kindergartene
and ino schools, and in many ways
showing Themselves tho children's
friend The compromise effected by tho
mil! presidents and tho Legislature Of
North Carolina was q step In tho right
direction. Let the presidents Of South
C"'oi ,hu hil'ib uulIo WIN Lhom III q
presidents' League. if you will, and lot
them decide that they will not employ q
child under fourteen, they will not om-
ploy child that cannot read and write,
and that furthermore they will, with
what help they can get from the State,
maintain good schools, tho question will
for time at least be kept from tho
politicians. Above all things keep the
question from our legislators until you
educate them.
You may not bo ablo to educate all the
presidents at once, rather think it will
require timo, but In tho meanwhile you
arc moulding public opinion, which after
all Is the primary condition Of all effec.
two social legislation And tho last
lesson for us Is patience. All social re-.
forms develop slowly, because now
habits of tho ught must be patiently
tended, and we must learn to await those
slower results which are the mark Of
lasting good. Y our duty is, while you are
waiting an opportunity to join tho South
Carolina League, to be just, bo kind, be
Watc hful, be patient, and always keep
clear your own little corner Of creation.