The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-16

All rights of republication Of all other
matter herein are also reserved.
The Woman's Burden
Men are funny creatures.
They are doing all Of the talking
about the NRA but it is clear to even
the casual observer that it Is the wo-
men who will determine the ultimate
success or failure Of the entire pro-
posal.
The reasons are clear enough.
Women make approximately 80 per
cent Of the nations purchases. AS
a practical matter it is they who
hold the purse strings: determine
what shall be bought and from
whom. Even in 50 personal thing
as mems furnishings and haberdash-
cry q surprisingly large number of
sales are made to women.
Unless the government attempts to
make use Of the licensing provisions
in the National Recovery Act it must
depend on popular sentiment to sus-
tain the voluntary codes now being
entered into.
II the codes are to be effective, the
blue eagle must become the buying
guide Of the nation, for no business
man can be expected to maintain the
new standard unless there are some
benefits for him. The man who plays
the role of Santa Claus will eventu-
ally 60 broke.
Consider the situation which soon
Is liable to exist. On the one hand
we may have retail merchants, OBJ
serving their code and selling goods
manufactured under other codes; on
the other non-code merchants sell
ing goods made in non-code factor
les.
The loyal merchant who is doing
his part will have to get more for his
goods. He will have to pay the reg
ular'' manufacturer more and his
costs of business are greater than
those of the man who works his help
long hours for little or nothing.
Under these circumstances he will
have to compete for the consumers
dollar and it is here that the women
of the land pick up the scales OF
Judgment. Upon them will depend
the decision as to whether the de-
cent merchant can stay in business
or whether he will have to go back
to the dog-eat-dog practices which
have been such handicap in recent
years.
Mrs. John J. Citizen, discussing
her purchases with her neighbor,
Mrs. James @. Citizen, may display
pair of stockings which cost 81 at
an NRA store; may be told "why I
can buy stockings as good as those
for IS cents from --," the
merchant who has ignored the MIRA.
Then comes the parting Of the
ways. Upon that decision, which will
have to be made In millions Of cases,
will depend the success Of the great
experiment we now are attempting.
Mrs. John ]. Citizen will need to
get the most possible for her money.
A saving on one item means ability
to purchase another. Temptation
will be strong.
VIII she realize that to buy from
q non-code merchant, selling nom
code merchandise is to indorse all
the anti-social practices in which such
individuals and firms indulge? Will
she appreciate the fact that upon
her decision depends the job of many
breadwinner, fair wages for those
who are employed? Will she realize
that, eventually, her temporary saw
ing will disappear into the NAV OF
new industrial and economic cata-
clysm?
Indications are that she will; that
her dollars will go to the man who
flies the blue eagle above his door.
The women Of this nation have borne
a terrific burden in these last few
years. They have demonstrated their
worth and their patriotism In a way
which no orator can adequately des-
cribe.
It Is confidently to be expected
that. eventually. they will come to
ignore entirely the man who sneers at
this new emblem Of 4 forward
marching nation.