Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-11-12

among poorer neighbors.
A few later epidemici
scarlet fever broke out and
it was found that the dresses
had been made by a working IN her tenement
home, where three Of her children i'll with scar
let One of them died during the period when
was work upon these little dresses. When the;
death occurred the board of health took up the mat
and an investigation made, but the sewinSi
upon which the depended for her living was
smuggled contag ion carried to the home
of every purchaser and rsked by each ,salesperson
who handled them in the store.
Because of thousands of incidents similar to this
by which the health the is constantly be-
ing risked, number of men and women some twelve
years ago organized the Consumers league, having
its object securing of adequate investigation
conditions under which goods made, in or
to distinguish favor of goods made in a well
ordered factory" Since the majority of employers
are almost helpless maintain high standard as To
wages hours and working conditions unless sustained
by the cooperation of consumers, the Consumers
league proposes educate public opinion and to
endeavor direct its force to promote better
the thereby securing to the
consumer exemption from the dangers attending I'M
wholesome conditions The league also endeavors TO
promote legislation tending improve industrial
ditions in recognition that the interests
of the community demand that workers should re-.
ceive a fair living wage that the goods should be
produced sanitary conditions and that the re-
sponsbility for Of the worst evils from which
the producers suffer rests with the consumer who
seeks the cheapest markets regardless of how the
cheapness is brought about
In this way the Consumers league stands for the
best interests purchaser and the workers and
continuous campaign of education is being carried on
throughout the country. Through the influence OF
the league, sweat shops and home work under I'M
proper conditions are being rapidly diminished each
year and conditions of the workers are be-
ing greatly improved. the consumer also is bene-
fitted.
one of the first matters to be taken up the
viii
an. especially sweated unorganized trade The.
league provided label those firms complying with
their requirements to labor conditions This label
factory laws Of the state have been
complied with that the goods have been made and
finished on premises approved by the league no home
work being permitted, that there has been over
time work. and that children under sixteen have
been employed The label is known from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. and each day new demands are being
made for It. Sometimes these demands come all the
way across the continent For instance, the mer-i
chants in Portland received demands Tor the
labeled goods. that they appealed to factory IN Wor
cester. Mass, to use it. Consequently this factory
asked Consumers league to inspect its methods
and grant white label
The early attempts of the league to secure recos-
milton of the value label most painstak
ing AS soon as local branch of the National Con-
sumers league established in community, its
members Immediately set about educating the mer-l
chants to the value of the league label by going TO
stores and asking repeatedly for goods bearing
that and refusing to look at without it
The Bryn Mawr college girls among the first to
matter and their example is still being
followed by the students colleges and private
schools. well as living in their own homes
towns in every state in the union
When the league label was first put into service
the members the league in Bryn Mawr college
ganized into regular parties to make its purpose
known to Philadelphia stores. Two three girls
would go together half different stores
asking for clothing bearing the white label" II
was in stock at first and they would politely
plain its and refuse to accept other goods.
girls would report the ground covered, and few
days later the would be visited by an
other group of we'll dressed young ladies inquring
for the same label Within three months the leading
stores Philadelphia supplying goods bearing
the white label" and the credit of the demand
largerIy due to the college girls.
The Consumers league has been active in enforc-
ing existing laws tending to protect the workers in
all classes factories. well additional
laws 1t is responsible for continuous Investigations
of many classes of Industries and the Improvement
conditions The legal efforts the league already
some notable victories and added
much to the strength of the labor unions Two years
great victory registered in the Of Curt
Miller the State of oregon The new Oregon labor
law prohibiting employment women in facto-
ries mercantile establishments longer than
cen day, challenged by the proprietor of
laundry. The carried through the courts Of
oregon up the court of the United States,
where the law sustained by the decision of Jus
tice Brewer
The league also has made white list of stores
which come the standards principles
of the organization. The stores upon this list pay
what is known living wage, give two weeks an
nual dismissal for three months, and extra for
overtime work In realization of the fact that many
of hardshps imposed by the stores caused by
thoughtlessness of customers, the league has
augurated educational crusades in towns urging
the to shop early in the day The hardships
the Christmas have received the attention OF
the Consumers league also, hundreds cities Il
in
week before Christmas is already under way.
The restrictions Of the league against work done in
the home have seemed to those who do not un
derstand conditions from which these restrictions
would protect them the Investigations show that
work involves greater hardshps upon the work
than work done in well conducted factory. il
renders possible the employment Of small children 70
do absolutely prohibited by the laws Of most