The Washington times., 1920-01-22
WOMENURGED
TO FIGHT H.C.L.
Action, Not Words, Needed to
Reduce Prices, Says Miss
Edith Strauss.

.sMere talk and discussion will not
bring down the high cost OF living
Action is necessery-and cooperative
action at that--by the District women
and housewives" declared Miss edith
Strauss, director OF the Women's Ac-
tiyities Bureau OF the Department OF
Justice investigating the prevailing
costs OF foodstuff and clothing today.
"There has been too much discus
sion and too little real action" said
'rss Strauss. "Women, not only In
Washington, but elsewhere In the
United States. should get down to
work and realize that they are the
principals who can defeat prohteer-
ing. stop waste and help bring down
the high cost OF everything.
A corps OF clerks In Miss Strauss
office today Is getting a list of the
names of heads OF women's clubs an
organizations for the purpose OF re-
ouesting Representatives OF these
ORGANIZATIONS to meet In conference
and discuss ways and means OF con-
Quoting their homes on a more eco
nomical basis and to report fiagrant
evidences of profiteering.
Women Powerful Factor.
While Miss Strauss and her depart
ment is after the prcfiteers. this
morning she declared that high
prices in many instances are a direct
outcome of the inequality OF supply
and de e.nand. Miss Strauss declared
that as 90 per cent OF the money
spent for food and clothing Is ex-
pended by women they are power
full factor in solving the problem Of
the high costs of everything.
hA .trx, n
Miss Strauss, "there is a reckless ex-
penditure Of money. This condition
cannot 20 on without dire results.
But if there is profiteering a fair
price must prevail. and II the mer-
chant refuses to heed this fair warn
ing he should by all means be re-
ported to the fair-price committees
Of United States attorney for action
by the Department of Justice.
'Women should preach conscrva-
ton; they should buy intelligently
and only necessaries; they should cut
out luxuries, raise and make things.
report boarding, insist on fair
weights and measures. and deal with
cooperative stores. There are thou
sand. OF don'ts for women, some OF
which are: Don't spend every dollar
as soon as II Is earned; don't buy use
less things; don't speculate unwtsely;
don't be wasteful or destructive;
don't trust to luck to make both ends
meet; don't open nu .nberless charge
accounts; don't let worry go hand in
hand with unpaid bills; don't ape the
extravaganza of others; don't run
into debt, and don't live beyond your
means"
Few Attend Conference.
Miss Strauss called a conference Of
Washington representative women
for yesterday afternoon. but because
Of the inclement weather only few at
tended. Miss Strauss attempted to
get those representing women's or
ganizations to sign pledges to take
active part in reducing their house
hold and other expenses, but while
the women were individually willing
to register such a vote, they declared
they would not be able to do SO, as
pledging the support of the organiza-
ton with which they are affiliated
Another meeting OF heads OF the
various women's clubs and other or
ganizations has been called for jan
uary 80, when Miss Strauss aims to
get the women to sign up-"and then
we can get down to work in the Dis
trict," said Miss Straus.
"If the women will not cooperate
and act we will be embarrassed In
prosecuting the profiteet and bring
ing down the cost of living here"
Miss Strauss left this afternoon for
Newark, N. j., and New York, where
she will address wofnen's organiza-
tions and present plans to cope with
the high cost of living.