Newark post., 1913-06-11

tional Consumer League many |
gains have been made in behalf of !
the American working woman
Their activities have extended be-
yond the sweat-shop to the girl be-
hind the counter by bringing home
to the shoppers Of the country the
idea that it is they who are respon-
sible for the conditions under when
the articles are made and sold. The
state leagues have persuaded the
public to do their Christmas shop
ping early.
"They have persuaded mer-
chants that it pays to give their
clerks shorter hours, wages On
which they can live properly, half
holidays on Saturdays i'll summer
and vacation with pay. They
have made white lists of stores
where conditions are best, and have
persuaded their sympathizers to
patronize only these stores.
"The National Consumers
League has won in the Supreme
Court of the United State a de Il,
sion settling for all time that it is
constitutional for the states to pass
laws in defense of working women;
that is, a recognition before tie law
that women cannot, for the safety
of the race, labor any number Of
hours they please, or their employ
ers please, in competition with men.
Following close on the heels Of
this Supreme Court decision, they
triumphantly steered through the
legislatures Of many states laws re
stricting the employment of women
in stores, factories, laundries and
hotels to eight, nine, or ten hours
day. Such law protects the right
minded employer i'll his desire to
give his employees a proper work
ing day, because it compels his COM
petitors also to regulate their shops
according to restrictions which the
best medical advice has pronounced
essential to the health of working
women.
"They have made painstaking
studies Of the actual effect upon the
human system Of continual fatigue,
and in the course Of time they will
doubtless convince even the most
skeptical employers that it actually
p0ys in better product and more Of
it to have a shop full Of workers
who come with the zest Of good
health each morning instead Of
, dragging themselves in, spent and
worn from the overtime work Of
the previous day.
, The Consumers League is es-
tablished in Is states and the Dis
: trict of Columbia, our own Della
ware being represented in the num-
: Der. Membership in the League re-
|; quires:
l. The payment Of small annual
dues, usually one dollar. Dues
are used for printing and postage,
: to get more members
2. A resolution never to shop on
: Saturday afternoons or after five
o clock on any day unless absolute
ly necessary.
3. To do all Christmas shopping
t before December 18th.
: 4. TO discourage tradespeople
from making deliveries after six in
the evening.
r 5. To avoid placing hurry or
. ders with tailors, dress makers, and
milliners.
? 6. Always, when buying wo
: men s white underwear, to demand
garments bearing the Consumers
e League label.
1 The experience following the or
e ganization of a League by the wo
e men Of Oregon may be repeateC
s anywhere. The demand for label
: ell goods became so positive that
/, the buyers for the white goods de
: partments were forced to write thC
t factory in Massachusetts. Tht
t manufacturer telegraphed to New
= York for a representative of th'
e Consumers League to visit the fac
s tory and state the requirements nee
/. essary Tor the use OF the label. Bet
4 ter sanitary arrangements, fire pro
h lection, unemployment Of girls
under sixteen. ten hours day ever
1 in rush season, no work finished a
: home was the verdict. The big man
e ufacturer in order to satisfy hi
+ far-aWay patron was compelled tt
+ make good. In spite of temporary
= inconveniences in not one instarc,
= was it necessary to advance thu
G price Of the goods.
V Suppose evry woman in Amcric;
r should register determination t,
l make this simple but effective effor
i to better conditions in the factor