Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
By Patricia McGerr.
UTOMOBILES or zithers, bres

A UTOMOBILES or zithers, bread
~ or bicycles-women do 80 per
~ cent of the buying. That Is
\ the battle cry Of the Wash
ington League of Women Shoppers,
which this month opened a drive that
it hopes will bring the membership to
1000 before Christmas-quite a goal
for an organization that started with
nucleus of only 20 women last Feb
ruary 81.
At that time this group invited Eve
Ign Preston, president of the New York
League. to confer with them as to the
possibilities of Washington branch.
At mass meeting on March the
league was officially launched, with
Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler Colman as
president; Mrs. Marquis Childs, vice
president; Mrs. Charles Wood Collier,
secretary, and Mrs. Bernard A. Gould,
treasurer. BY the end of summer 500
women shoppers had enlisted under
the banner of the league.
The detectives of this association
are twofold. AS consumers, its men,
bers are interested in low prices and
high quality of goods. AS citizens,
they are interested in better working
conditions. The emphasis is placed on
the latter interest. The league plat
form reads, Higher wages, lowered
living costs, healthy working condi-
tons and trade union organization for
the workers of America
ITO GAIN these ends the league has
a five-point program. First, 1t is
striving to build up its membership,
since the larger the group the greater
the influence it will be able to exert
on employers. Second. through speak
ers, publications and the press, it is
working to educate the public in its
views and the results of its inveStiga-
lions. Third. a special committee,
headed by Mrs Melvin Sims, studies
and analyses all pertinent legislation
that comes before Congress, attends
hearings and recommends the stand to
be taken, This is more an educational
than lobbying function. Fourth, a
research department collects material
on wages, hours and living costs, pre-
pares surveys of the various industries
studies statistics prepared by Govern
ment departments and tries to set a
standard by which to judge whether
conditions in given plant are better
or worse than normal. Working in this
| field are experts in economics and
| sociology. Fifth, it investigates all cases
Of labor trouble brought to its atten-
ton by members, trade unions. en-
ployes or other interested individuals
| In accordance with the leagues ed
ucational function. a monthly bulle-
tin is sent to members apprising them
of the work being done by commit
tees and acquainting them with the
results Of the Investigations and sur
veys that have been made. A white
list as we'll as black list" of in
dustries is sent out. since. according
| to Mrs. Collier, executive secretary
the league considers it duty not
only to expose sore spots, but to In
dictate the places where fair condi-
tons are prevalent"
At present the group is engaged ir
what will probably prove the largest
enterprise thus far in its career. II
is making survey of the laundry in.
dustry with view to a campaign to
| improve conditions in Washington
This is the largest industry in the
District of Columbia. Other worker!
in which the league has interested it.
self include cleaners and dyers, re.
tail clerks, restaurant and hotel EN-.
ployes and workers in few small in.
dustries. An attempt to improve ths
condition of domestic servants also i!
planned.
THE entire membership of the or
ganization meets monthly
program Of speakers to address thess
meetings is now under way, having
opened last month with talk by Leor
Henderson, economist The Octobe
speaker was Leane Zugsmith, novel
list. prominent in the New York Leagu
of Women Shoppers. They also hop'
to place speakers on the program o
schools and other civic groups.
The league has no paid executive
or secretary. Three or four of it
heads voluntarily put in almost full
time, while large contingent o