The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1902-03-29

Says That Men Should BE Home
Auxiliary Organizations.
The story of the beginning Of Wom-
ems Label leagues is a good illustra-
ton Of how easily the work Of advanc-
ing the sale Of union label articles may
be started and how quickly it grows.
In town in Indiana where the pop
ulation was practically that Of wage
earners, bright woman one day sug-
gested to a neighbor that instead of
organizing sewing circle or literary
club the women Of that town organize
club whose chief mission should be
the encouragement and purchase of un-
lion label goods.
The preliminary meeting was held.
The chairman explained that as the
merchants of the town expected their
patronage mainly from the families of
wage earners, there was no reason why
these merchants should not keep any
class Of goods desired. In fact it
should not take much argument to
prove that it was to their advantage
to do so.
It was pointed out that the union lab
ell is a guarantee that the article is
not made in a filthy sweat shop.
That it is made Of honest material
and under good sanitary conditions.
That those employed in its manu-
facture have been paid at least living
wages for their work.
And finally, that to buy union label
goods meant to give more employment
to the men in various trades which
have a label.
Such a thing as union label had never
been known in that town.
It required some correspondence with
tha officers of various organizations in
order to get list Of union labels and
information as to where they could be
purchased by the merchant.
Equipped with this the woman's
club started on it's crusade. 1t was a
novelty and the very idea put every
body in good spirits. Instead of watt
member was selected to make the OPEN
ing inquiries.
This woman wanted to buy overalls
for her husband The merchant had
large stock and dilated on the good
qualities of the article he had to sell.
"Have these garments the union
labsl?" asked The prospective pur-
''Er, what:" calculated the mer-
chant.
The lady explained. The merchant
was bewildered. He had never heard
Of d union label before. It might be all
right. but he was under the impression
tfat It couldn't be anything very SER
;ous or he would have heard of it be-
fore. He did feel bit uneasy how
thoroughly feminine suggestion that
his competitor down the street was
sure to have them.
About fifteen minutes later another
member of the club came in and insist
ed on the union label as a condition of
purchasing.
The merchant felt puzzled.
All that afternoon members Of the
club kept dropping in and they all
wanted that mysterious union label on
the goods.
Not one of the ladies neglected to
suggest that the other dealer was GER
tain to have it.
BY closing time that merchant had
made up his mind that he would have
to secure union label goods or go out
Of business.
In this state of feeling it was easy
for the club to supply him with sugges-
tons as to where such goods could be
obtained.
He took the information very thank
fully because he had been made to want
It. A day earlier without the prepar-
alton of customers inquiring for the
label, he would have scorned the sub
ject.
This club. composed Of workingmen's s
wives and daughters and mothers. used
the feminine aptitude for shopping to
good advantage.
The same tactics were tried on eyerv
merchant in the city. It was not only
everything that they could discover
which should carry union label.
IT was not two weeks until every
merchant in the town was carrying un-
ion label goods, advertising it prom
inently at his own expense, and urg-
ing all patrons to buy them.
That women's club didn't have any
dull sessions either. It had a definite
and practical object in view. At each
meeting there were interesting reports
of the progress Of the work and plans
laid out for extending the campaign.
From that small beginning women's
label leagues have spread all over the
country.
ORGANIZER WILSON.