Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-27
A. ESTElLE LAUDER
On the Power Of the Consumer

On the Power OF the consumer
7NHE consumers Of the country have 1t in
l. their power to exercise an immense
amount of regulation over product. method
and working conditions il they will do it.
says Miss A. Estelle Lauder. executive Sec
retary of the Consumers League Of Eastern
Pennsylvania.
1--WE consider the consumers responsible
said Miss Lauder, "in a large measure. for
the conditions under which goods are pro-
duced and distributed. and the consumers.
therefore, can materially better conditions
If they only will do SO. Our organization
has been working to this end for about
twenty four years; and while we think we
have accomplished good deal, there is still
bring about the desired result without re-
course to legislation. If that be possible, but
If not, then to take up the matter under
consideration with the State Legislature
AN Instance of what l mean by accom-
plishing results without legislation IL
Christmas shopping early movement. we
were responsible Il good many years ago
for this slogan. the aim being to end the
atrocious and totally unnecessary system by
which the shop and store workers were SO
terribly rushed during the few days before
Christmas that through ovcrwork caused by
the negligence of shoppers the iday meant
nothing to them when 1t arrived.
Working Back to the Source
"rhe plan worked back to the source.
When the shopping began earlier the dis
tributng agents placed their orders earlier,
and the m..rufacturer in turn started earlier
to make the goods. The stores co operated
heartily with us in the movement, and in
few years the habit Of the consumer of put
ting off the Christmas shopping until the
last minute was broken and the reform was
accomplished in the most effective manner
without any recourse to the passing OF new
laws.
1T worked out we'll for all concerned, and
7 feel safe in saying that today there is no
store in the city which would willingly con-
template II return to the old system.
''irhis small beginning was revelation
70 MANY people of the power which con-
sumers really have and the manner in which
they can co operate with the dealers to gain
a really desirable end. Like all new move
ments there were many persons who said
that il would not work out and who said
that we were impractical theorists, but 1t
did work admirably.
Ca. operation OF Manufacturers
"Generaly speaking, the manufacturers
and employers co operate heartily with us.
MANY Of them are members OF our organ-
cation and make use OF the research work
which is the greatest feature OF the League.
Some time ago q study was made or the va
cation system with pay, as applied to factory
workers, and this was done with the coop
Grafton of one of the largest industrial es-
tablshments of the East. and 1t produced
excellent results both for the workers and for
the firm itself,
There is q general disposition on the
part of the manufacturers and employers OF
ihe better type to play fairly with their
workers, although. of course. there are some
of the other kind who come under our notice.
One big firm was recently considering the
matter of closing all day on Saturdays
during the summer and at their request we
made the research for them and the plan
was adopted not only by them but by an
other organization TO whose attention the
matter came purely as business incident.
"Other manufacturers have sent at other
times to get estimates of the living costs
for women workers to use as basis OF wage
detcrm!nation This is matter which we
take up every year, q research worker being
sent to ascertain the costs as they exist at
that time. Rooms, cost of food and Of
clothing are all considered; and last year,
with the co operation of one Of the large
stores, complete clothing budget was
The Labor Laws
1.-THE labor laws and their impartial en-
forcement are important matters in the
we'll being of any State or community. There
are certain changes In the child labor laws
OF the State which should be made. The
Federal Child Labor Law. recently declared
to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
| Of the United States, was originally passed
18th the express idea Of bringing some of the