The Washington times., 1914-03-09

! wish to explain first Of all that tho
Consumers League is neither a fad nor
q philanthropy, but an organization
working for,the justice which will make
charity less necessary.
The league Is based on the assumption
that IL Industrial conditions are bad
and In many industries, especially those
in which women and children are en-
gagged. we know conditions are very
bad-that 1t is the people who buy the
product, the consumers. who are ulti-
mately responsible.
1t is hardly fair to 60 to an individ-
ual employer. be he factory manager,
head Of a store or proprietor of a laun-
dry. and say:
wages are too low: they are the same
want you to change them
No. The prevailing conditions of the
whole industry must be changed and no
one can bring about the readjustment
SO well as the patrons ard customers
by insisting on certain decent standards
from their own tradespeople and max
ing the demand effective by refusing
their custom otherwise
1t all began some twenty-five years
ago when a woman in Boston under
took to combat sweatshoop work in the
manufacture of women's white UNDER
wear by granting a label reading:
Made under clean and healthful con-
dltions' to those factories which came
up to a certain definite standard.
Some seventy-odd factories all over
the country now carry the label on their
product-for the league has become a
NATIONAL organization. and a good as
sortment of these label goods is to be
found in ten Of washington's depart
rnent and speciality stores.
In every new city and State where
We organize. We begin by asking the
newly enrolled members to ask for the
label IN making their purchases. and
which makes other factories anxious to
carry the label. The Washington mer-
chants and the Washington public have
co-operated with us splendidly In this
matter. and the demand here has served
to improve factory conditions in New
York and the other industrial centers
from which comes our local supply Of
ready-made white goods
But to quote the words Of the late
Gommissioner , Of Labor. Carroll D:
job to win the battle for safe, decent.
and humane working conditions for
women and children by this method
alone. Indifference Is a powerful en-
emy. and the captious shopper Is too
apt to buy the article she wants, ire
spective of the label
So We have of recent years adopted
a new and more effective method to
gain our ends. and that is. by means Of
legislation. tx
When the Consumers League Of the
District Of Columbia was organized In
the fall Of 1911. the National Consumers
League. OF which We are branch. had
already asked Senator La Toilette to
introduce the eightThour bill for women,
which has Just become law.
For two years and a half It has been
the task Of our local league to work.
by publicity and education, among the
citizens Of Washington as well as
members Of Congress. to get this bill
passed. There has been much opposi-
tion. large proportion Of which IS.
am satisfied. due to ignorance OF the
successful operation of similar laws in
four Western States. Arizona, Cali
fornia. Colorado. and Washington.
In every case, after the law has been
in operation for a short while. employ
ers and employees have found II equally
satisfactory, and this Is due to the fact
that the woman whose working day Is