The Washington times., 1920-01-31
.50,0OOWONEN
FIGHT H.C.OFL.
D. c. Housewives Aid Depart.
msnt Of Justice In Nation
Wide Campaign.

AT" WIN WI VI shc pfShsc~h
ing clause Of the Lsver act and .
shsaf Of complaint slips, $1,000 wash
inSton housewives are about to march
upon the outer entrenchmsnts OF
General High Cost OF Living In the
retail stores of the city.
They are under the direction of
Miss Edith c. Strauss. womsn's di-
vision. II. c, l.. bureau. Department
Of Justice, as secretary OF war. and
under Mrs. MAtthey T. Scott. chair
man OF the divisions extension work,
as held marshal
Dsttie fer Eesss.y.
They will be organized through the
medium of nfty or more existing
Women's clubs, and through district
committees stili to be formed, and
they will be instructed in the tactics
of the battle for economy and fair
prices by q corps OF lecturers equip
ped with lantern slides, chants and
daX .-.
and already In operation in eleven
States, 10 to make every housewife
an efficient worker for better and
cheaper commodities, fair prices and
honest goods
The women will report eItortionats
charges and inferior commodities, on
slips furnished by the Department OF
Justice, and these slips will be turned
over to the proper authorities for
investigation and prosecution; but
they will do more than this. They
will be expected to so shape and
standardize their purchases along
the lines of necessities az to enable
producofs to catch up with the mar
lat antsallvA fhA
lines of supply and demand.
Pistfsrn fer wsrk.
According to the platform framed
for the work. high prices are a direct
outcome Of supply and demand. Sup
ply and demand can be made more
nearly equal by either increasing sup
ply or decreasing demand.
TT will take several years for pro-
duction to catch up with the demand
on account Of decreased price Of goods
during the war. and the present un-
stable condition OF labor. Then II
the supply of goods cannot be In
creased rapidly we must equalize sup
ply and demand more nearly by
decreasing demand.
I'VE consider 1t as patriotic now to
be conservative in the expenditure OF
money as II was during the war. Do
not fear the result on business, Is
the demand for goods Is far greater
than the supply, and will be greater
for several years.
IF we do not demand the luxuries,
the attention of the merchants will
turn to the necessities and the supply
Of necessities will be increased.
"The factories make that for which
there is q demand. Each one of US
can control the demand.
Weld Crest Inflsesce.
I'VE will by precept and example
emphasize the doctrines of simple
living. We may be able to WELD
great influence by setting standa Ids
We will devote some time OF our club
program each month to the consid-
GRAFTON of home economics.
I'VE will advocate intelligent buy
ing, which does not mean cessation
Of buying, but buying what we need,
buying wisely. having in mind dura-
bility of material and style. (Mar-
ketmen and dry goods merchants tell
us women do not know how to buy
that women do not know the quality
of goods and judge quality simply
| by the price affixed.) We will in,
clude in our club program instruc
ton in the matter of buying.
EVERY man handling an article ha:
a right to a fair profit. II II is found
that too many are handling the same
article we must eliminate them anC
bring producer and housewife closer
together.
After Fair Price.
but II there is prohteering. we de,
clare that a fair price must prevail
and IL the merchant refuses to Iced
this fair warning. he will be rep,rtct
I Nil
United States Attorney. and action
will be taken by the Department o'
Justice"