Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
Women Shoppers Open
Membership Drive s..
Washington League Is Active
In Watching Quality and
Working Conditions.

other members devotes several days
a week to the work of the associa-
ton. The league ONCE In the Ma
tional Press Building is provided by
Mrs. Collier.
Sponsors Of the organization now
number 81. Among them are Mrs.
Henry Morgenthau, jr., Mrs William
O. Douglas, Emily Newell Blair,
Judges Marion Harron and Fay Bent
ley, Genevieve Forbes Herrick, Rep
resentative Caroline O'Day. Mrs.
Clifford Pinchot, Mrs. Donald Rich
berg, Mrs. John S. Bennett, Josephine
Roche and Peggy Duffy.
Although the officers insist that
participation in strikes and labor dis
putes occupies only small place on
their program, the league has been
involved in troubles OF this kind al
most from the first movement Of its
inception, and 1t is in this connection
that it is most often heard of by the
public.
Immediately upon its formation the
Washington branch inherited one Of
the projects of the New York group
that of supporting a hosiery strike.
All the stores in the city were visited
by members and letters of protest
were written to the owners of those
selling the hose. An announcement
was sent to all members informing
them of the strike. Union-made
hosiery was also listed.
THIS, in general, has been the pro-
cedure followed by the league in
all cases of employer employe differ
ences. Mrs. Mordecai Ezekiel. chair
man OF the Investigating Committee,
appoints three members to sit as a
committee for a particular case. The
next step is thorough investigation
during which factories and homes are
visited and representatives of employees
and employers interviewed. They also
inquire into the history and back
ground of firms labor policy and of
the union. The opinions of labor
authorities, connected with govern
mental agencies or with organizations
that can supply additional information
pertinent to the case, are likewise
obtained.
| When the data are collected it is
| considered by the executive board,
which then decides upon the position
to be taken by the league. This de-
cislon, together with all the informa-
ton gathered, is then submitted to
the members. who are at liberty to
follow or to disregard the lead of the
board.
Chief course of action by the league
ordinarily involves a boycott by its
members OF firms in which labor
conditions are citicized. Occasion
ally delegation of protest is sent to
inform the employer Of its action and
| attitude.
Although the League OF Women
Shoppers is not affiliated with any
other group or party, it may, in par
ticular cases, cooperate with an
other organization with the same OBJ
jective, as the Consumers League,
Women's Trades Union League,
trades union groups or church groups.
IN extreme cases, the league may
resort to picketing by its members
The only instance of this in Washing
ton occurred during clothing strike
last spring. The result was a speedy
termination of the strike and the
winning by workers Of the right tc
organize as well as an adjustment
in their hours and wages. Again
during the cleaners and dyers' strike
the league assisted by cooperating
with the Women's Trades Union
League in feeding the pickets. though
its members did not themselves &C.
tually march. In all cases. where
it has interviewed in any of these ways
the league claims definite proof that
it was helpful and that it, in SOME
cases, deserves chief credit for the
workers success.
Picketing however, will continue to
be used only rarely as league device
for supporting strikes But. when il
is believed that circumstances re.
quire a particularly dramatic gesture
several hundred women, prominent
in professional. political and socia
circles, have indicated their willing.
ness to take up their placard and wall
back and forth in front of an estab.
lishment.