New-York tribune., 1911-12-18
HOUSEWIVES FOODLEAGUE
Oruanize to Enforce Laws and
Lessen Cost of Living.
TO ACT AS OWN INSPECTORS
Mrs. Jennie D. Heath, Head of
Movement, Says They Will In
sist on Sanitary Conditions.

Housewives of this city arc organizing
to enforce the laws affecting food supplies
70 lessen the cost of living and to secure
needed legislation TO aid them in their OBJ
jects
Mrs Jennie Dewey Heath. president o.
tbo League for Home Economics, Is also
head Of the new organization, Wmch -
called the Housewives League. Associate"
with her are many prominent clubWomen
and social workers, including MISS hili.''1
Rossong. Mrs George r. Ayres MIS- At
thur Randolph Green and Mrs Josephine
Redding.
During the coming week some oi tne
women will visit church societies ana ol'''
organizations 10 enlist cooperation IN uue
new crusade and 20 make it ctty-Wide' II i
intended that all sorts and conditions VI
iradesmen and stores. from the small III
lighted il-ventilated places on the lower
East Side to the magniicently appointed
stores supplying the homes of Fiith ave
nue. and other fashionable streets, snail
soon feel the effects of the campaign.
The slogan Of the league is; Every
housewife her own food inspector IDS
was explained last night by Mrs. Heath at
her home. No West 9lst street.
All members must report violations com
ing under their observation to the cehtrdi
committee Of the league, who Will see that
he violator is punished said Mrs. Hea'h'
and by the women of each neighoorhood
meeting I'm groups and exchanging NOTES
on prices and sanitary conditions preNan-
ing in the various stores in when theS
make their purchases, offending shopkeep-
ers can be brought TO task by loss OF trace
quicker than by tedious legal procedure
Mrs Heath cited a case in point she
went 10 a grocer last week and ordered
2 can of cocoa Of a we'll known brand IL
was sent TO her. with a bill for % cents
The prevailing price is 20 cents. She called
the attention Of the grocer to the over
charge.
And do YOU know what he said?' con
tinued Mrs Heath ole told me to change
the price 10 the correct one whenever 1
discovered an overcharge. l At once tod
him I did not like his way of doing ousi-
ness. and he lost a customer.
Now. that Is the sort of thing that IS
largely responsible for the hieh cost OF
living. the unfair and uneven prices OF
some trsdesmen 1t is nothing short of
larceny. The fault, though, is not entirely
with the shopkeeper. The housewife VINO
assumes a false pride and tolerates these
things. rather than argue with her grocer
her butcher or her baker, is even more re-
Sponsible Housewives must open their
owes and they must assert themselves. The
housewife must he sensible about things
She must he economical. not eXtrayagant
When she orders chops ana asks the butch
er 10 trim them, she must not ne ashamed
10 ask that the trimmings be wrapped up
with the chops. She can use them, and
she should use them
Members Of the league are pledged to
observe the following rules
To insist upon full Weights and measures.
To insist upon cleanliness in the hand
NuC Of food
10 protest against the exposure Of all
food 10 contamination from dirt. flies or
other Infection and 20 refuse 10 purchase
such food
To read carefully al labels on canned and
BOTTLED goods and 70 report any violation IF
the pure food and drUg act.
To make personal investigation into the
sanitary condition Of their markets grocery,
dairy. bakery. laundry, delicatessen and
confectionery stores
To refuse 10 purchase cold storage food
which has been held to the dctTiment of
condition or advancement Of price.
There is no initiation fee, and active
members ave asked 10 pay but five cents
in dues annually.