Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-11-10

was not In stock 1t first and they
would politely explain its use and re-
fuse 20 accept any other goods. The
giris Mould report the ground covered.
and few days later the same stores
would be visited by another group OF
well dressed young ladies inquiring
for the same label. Within three
the leading stores In Phila-
delphia were supplying goods bearing
the white Label" and the credit of
the demand was largely due to the col
lege girls.
The Consumers League has been ac-
tive in enforcing existing laws tending
to protect the workers In all classes Of
as well ~ to secure addition
al laws. 1t 10 responsible for contin-
uous investigations Of many classes Of
The legal efforts Of the
league already have won some notable
victories and have added much TO the
strength OF the labor unions. Two
years ago a great victory was register
ed in the case Of Curt Miller versus
the, State Of Oregon. The new Oregon
labor law prohibiting the employment
Of women in factories. mercantile es-
adjustments, etc., for longer than 10
hours a day, was challenged by the
Of laundry. The case was
carried through the courts Of Oregon
up to the supreme court Of the United
States. where the law was sustained
by the decision of Justice Brewer.
League Has "Whits Lis.."
The league. also has made white
- 80 -
the standards and principles Of the or
ganization. The stores upon this list
pay what IL known as living wage,
give two weeks annual vacation with
pay, Saturday half holidays, o'clock
dismissal for three months, and extra
pay for overtime work. In realization
of the fact that many of the hard
ships imposed by the stores are caused
by the thoughtlessness Of customers,
the league has inaugurated educational
crusades in many towns urging the
women to shop early in the day. The
hardships o. the Christmas rush have
received the attention of the Con-
sumer's League also. and in hundreds
of cities a crusade against leaving the
Christmas shopping until the week be-
fore Christmas is already under way
The restrictions Of the league against
work done in the home have seemed
severe to those who do not understand
conditions from which these restrictions
would protect them, but the investiaa-
tions show that home work involves
eleater hardships upon the worker
than work done in a we'll conducted
factory. It renders possible the en-
ployment Of small children to do work
absolutely prohibited by the laws OF
most Of the states. and there is nc
means OF safeguarding the consumer
from possible exposure to contagious
diseases arising from conditions which
would not be tolerated in factory en-
titled to use the white Label"
Home work is always underpaid, be-
cause the employer takes advantage OF
the necessities of Individual employees
as he could not do II he were dealing
with a number of workmen in a fac
tory. The employer is also exempt
from the expense OF providing for the
rent. heat and lighting Of the building
in which his work is done, so that hs
can sell 1t cheaper than a shop where
all the requirements Of health and by
giene are provided. The workers al
home operate their machins by foo'
power instead of motor power, so thai
their work is much more laborious fol
the product produced and they are tho
sufferers for the expense saved by the
manufacturer.
The Investigations of the Consumer:
League show that the low rate paid fol
home work tends to increase rather
than to lessen poverty. A recent in
vestigation showed that married wo
men working at home earn sometimes
less than two dollars a week, that In
valids and old people who would be un
able to go out to work can compete b.
working in the home, and thus lowe
the rate Of pay for that class Of work
thereby lesseninC the value Of al
classes of workers. The home work
also permits any amount Of child la
Dor. even though 1t Is forbidden by tn
law of the state. In its effort to pro
hibit home work the Consumer
League feels that 1t IL doing its great
est work for the general good Of ever,
community.
Tomorrow-Department Store Cd
di.ies.