The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-07-07
WOMANs LABEL LEAGUE
!. NECESSARY To- LABOR.
1t Turns the Current on Purohas-
ing Power Buyers Must Be
Enlisted to Win.
Woman is the Buyer for the Home
She Must Learn. How to Pro-
mote Her Welfare.

| It seems in the order Of industrial
affairs that whenever a reform, becomes
| necessary for the common good, 1t
terminates in the mind and conscience
! Of the few, who have the moral courage
to proclaim 1t; and Just in proportion
to its merit, it win appeal to the senti-
ment of that class most vitality con-
cerned. Then 1t becomes their duty
to labor increasingly to make the re-
form not only popular but effective.
With this object In view, many trades
have adopted a label to protect their
| work from competition with that class
Of leborers who have a low estimate
| Of a living wage; from competition
| with prison labor; from the evils of
fthe sweat shop system, ,and" from the
horrors Of child labor. While the mis-
sion Of the union label is manifest to
all fair-minded citizens, yet it is to
be regretted that it is not universally
! patronized.
Labor leaders, thinking men and
women, observing this negnA ence,
studied the situation and made this
suggestion: Turn on the current Of
the purchasing power; to win we must
enlist the buyers"
But who have the largest per cent
of this power in hand? Those who buy
the children's clothes. the family
groceries, and other supplies. Who
else, then, but the wives. daughters
and sisters of labor union men should
lead in establishing this reform. If
they lead in downright earnest, other
women, philanthropically disposed, will
follow their example. But how can this
be done is the question.
Through organized effort is the most
definite answer. Nothing can withstand
the power of fraternal cooperation
towards a common object. BY joining
or cooperating with the woman's I'm
ion Label League women will learn
what the current of purchasing power
means to their husbands. their chill
dren, and themselves. Furthermore,
when different classes of women learn
to think, to reason, to work together,
then their ability, their devotion, their
enthusiasm will become enlisted in the
settlement Of the burning economic
questions of the times.
This is one of many phases in our
industrial system where men and
women are equally concerned, and by
unison of purpose, by concert Of action,
held together by fraternal obligation,
they can win.
Thus the Woman's Label League il
the child Of necessity, pledged from
its birth to assist the cause OF right
and Justice. Asking for union made
goods Is certainly dignifed and ef-
fective way for any class Of women,
of repEov1ns~"man's in humanity Ito
man. There is no need to sermonize
In any unusual way, but simply to ask
for and purchase none other than goods
bearing the workers guarantee that
the right to sanitary condition and liv-
ing wages were respected in the max
ing. Ask to be served by a union
! clerk; ask that the goods be delivered
by union teamsters. All these requests
should be made in such a way as will
impress those with whom we deal that
labor unionists and friends o. labor
only ask for Justice, simply the justice
that inheres in American citizenship.
Women are SO closely allied to and
that they can i'll afford to consider
|
venience when spending the mon ley
earned by labor union men,. They
should first, last and all the time con-
slider the well-being Of the labor un-
ions. and be their ally, not their op-
ponent, In any organized effort that
stands for better conditions BY joining
hands with the unions. and keeping
them joined, they will learn why
changes and adjustments are, now and
then, necessary in every craft OF
pursuit.
Then they will feel a corporate in
terest In the labor movement as a
whole; they will become conscious OF
their own powers as women and their
= influence as members Of an orRanfza
=, ton.
1t Is true many things conspire tc
l. prevent women from taking an active
| Fart In the Woman's Label League
Some women are prevented by donle<.
tic duties, Ill health, or absolute want
of time. But granting that these ex.
cuses may prevent them from attend.
ing the regular meetings, 1t need no,
prevent them from joining the league
The willingness to join hands and BIZ
counted, so to speak, will help tn.
cause. Surely the kinfolk Of unfor
men, or every woman friendly to labor
can afford to do this il she will,
In conclusion we must not make the
Woman's Union Label, League a mere
fad, that will be in vogue for a time
then lapse into ancient history. to BIZ
quoted as a lost cause. 1t is a work
\ Of love, for humanitys sake, and thu
satisfaction Of lending 4 helping HAND
to the labor unions, struggling &c
bravely to establish better conditions
should inspire US with a determine tior
to win. So
FRANCIS A: WILLIAMSON.
WAgES Ann rp1nxr