New-York tribune., 1902-03-20
"IMMORAL" BARGAINS.
THE SHOPPER WHO BUYS SWEATSHOP
GOODS SEVERLY CONDEMNED
BY NRS NATHAN
BY MRS. NATHAN.

Mrs. Frederick Nathan. president Of the Consum-
ers' League, startled her audience most effectively
yesterday in her address before the Household
Economic Association by asserting that sweat
shop a1d tenement work are "A menace even to
Inc v-earers of expensive clothing.
TIE meeting was held AT tho Berkeley Iyceum.
and Mrs Narhan's topic was The Shopp.r-IFow
Nay Her Ideals Be Elevated ."
Many instances were cited. one II them being that
of q woman who had contracted smallpox by wear
ing q coat made in tenement where that disease
existed. Another that Of a child. 50 thor
ouEhlv protected against possible Contagion that
she was not even permitted TO ride in streetCars.
hur tho disease was brought directly into the home
rv garment made where there was scarlet fever.
and the death Of the carefully nurtured child re
suited.
Even custom made clothing purchased a. high
prices might he thus contaminated said the
speaker as fine hand work. embroidery etc.. could
De done at home and rhe manufacturers profit in
creased ~ letting the work our 70 tenement
L7-etlers-
Even white work. which * supposed 70 he
-uudered before II Is sold IS Frequently only dipped
in the Hquid starch before it IS ironed" continued
;he speaker. There is d why the
selfish mother or shopper should create demand
for garments made under The best and most
lealthful conditions"
Bargains obtained at the cost OF another's priva-
ton suffering and desperate necessity were cassed
as immoral bargains" and the Practice censured
with great dtrrctncss and emphasis.
Life lu lis fGller SeESe. Mrs Nathan declared.
did not mean mere existence: and after enumerat-
ine the things necessary life the speaker asked
What is there # this in the sweatshop workers
life r. il a starved existence spiritually and
physically
Some women mink hv paying high prices for
what they buy they shirk al responsibility
This tho speaker COutended. Was not enough
Women should unite il their efforts to prevent
Work from being given out to pe don" in homes
Emp Fy.s in retail stores would also He accorded
much better treatment II customers whose ludiyd-
ual requests often meet with much consideration
from firms would unite i'm their efforts TO raise tho
standard of treatment 81 employees. Another luty
confronting the ethical shopper was to promote
patriotism by purchasing home products. In clos
jng, Ms. Nathan appealed 70 women I" purchase
garments bearing the Consumers League label.
saving Of tenement work, 80 long as women care
I0t. 50 long viii the garment tester on the
a. i.n-eTs-''
Mrs. William g. Shai'er. president OF the House
bold Economic Association. iu closing the meeting.
said that the subject dealt with had been that
could justly b. cassed under the head Of house
hold economies, and invited the guests TO partci-
pate in "a reception 70 Mr.. Nathan. which followed
the meeting
On the afternoon Of March 25 Charles SpraEue
Smith. director Of the Peoples Institute. will speak
on "The Social club a. an Enlargement Of the
Homo This lecture had been announced for
March :. but was postponed on account Of the
severe storm. The annual meeting Of the assoCia-
uon viii be held I'm Brooklyn in MAY