New-York tribune., 1901-04-02
THE CONSUMERS" DIFFER
BROOKLYN SOCIETY WILL ACT INDE-
PFNDENTLY OF THE NATIONAL
ORGANIZATION.

The announcement Of a recent action Of the
executive board Of the Consumers League OF
Brooklyn. lis meeting in Pratt Institute yester-
day afternoon, resulted in a lively discussion be
tween Mrs. Lillian ". Belts president of the
society, and Mrs Florence Kelly. secretary Of the
National Consumers League II closed with the
statement ny Mrs. Kelly that 1t would be her
pleasant duty 70 advertise the fact far and wide
that the Brooklyn organization is not carrying
the principles of the original society. The Con-
sumers League Of Brooklyn is not 4 member Of
the State Federation Of Consumers Leagues hay-
ing Withdrawn because Of the requirement TO pay
IS yearly fee one-fourth Of its income. The point
at issue yesterday the decision OF the Brooklyn
society TO demand those brands Of manufactured
garments which proven 10 be made under
proper factory conditions. thus requiring white
hst' Of manufacturers instead Of sellers. IN
psnation Of this Mrs. Belts said
The combining Of the department stores Of New
.r "a "a d iesaI ] 10 use - t.e I@~el pl | ne @ o9.lIn
~ l@e -s gives an excuse 10 caIfle5s shoLIers,
ABE &Is6sl and We cannot tell how and where they are
woman may NOT have clean goods that she knows
are not made in a sweatshop. We intend to have
sIafdard manufacturers on our wnlte list as fast
as they VIII permit our representatives 70 90
sweatshop is the purpose Of the Consumers League
Of Brooklyn We believe that the same results
can be accomplished In the department Of manu-
si} Ihe eiioT OF Ide league 70 have goods
people but on the statute books OF the state
lists from time time Of manufacturers whose
factories the sanitary requirements OF the
organization. Mrs Kelly objected that this would
entail buying Of non-union manufacturers. when
The line OF goods is made by union houses.
Miss Elizabeth Reeve. chairman OF the legislat-
I've committee of the society. described a recent
visit 10 a factory in Port Chester where a thou
sand persons are employed and all but one hun
dred and fifty OF the number women. Every
thing, she believed. done for the good OF the
employees in that establishment. In one room,
where several hundred women working
sheets and pillOWcases. there was abundance of
light and air. The managing room, where there is
of necessity a good deal of steam. provided
with device which allowed IL to escape and former
unhealthful conditions an end. All the
other rooms found light and airy. a large
room. used evenings for ertanments. pro-
viGed during the day with chairs and small tables
here the employees eat their luncheons. a coffee
at side dispensed the best coffee at
cent a cup. This is not done the head OF the
firm explained her. for philanthropic purposes
II Is TO our advantage. We get more and better
work done.
The other speakers were Miss Williams, head
worker OF the College Settlement, and Dr. A. 8
Daniels.
The Consumers League Of Brooklyn has three
hundred members. Mrs. Lillian w. Belts Is presi-
dent. The Vice-presidents are Mrs. Frederick
Pratt, Mrs. Spencer Roche. Mrs James Hill Nor
gan. Mrs. Edwin Litchfeld. Mrs Newell Dwight
Mrs Robert /. Dickinson, Mrs H. II. Knox. Mrs
Charles Hewitt; corresponding secretary. Miss
Sara Cotton; recording secretary, Mrs. Charles
Shepard and treasurer. Mrs kingsbury.