Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/760

 740 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The organization that is attempting to mitigate the evils con- nected with life in mercantile establishments has most laudable aims and methods. The ameliorative movement on the part of consumers is a rational one. It is representative of the most enlightened forces in society, and rests on a sound basis. So long as the consumer will patronize bad stores, so long will they exist ; so long as people will buy clothing produced under inhu- man conditions, so long will they continue to be produced under just those conditions. Has the public no duty in the matter? Women and children are in the industrial world, and it is useless to wrangle over the expediency of their filling the places they do. They are there, and as the weaker members of society they need protection. Inhuman and demoralizing conditions must be removed. Some of the evils here could be speedily remedied by legislation and faithful inspection. Those who have not already considered the matter would do well to peruse carefully the Consumers' standard of a fair house, and ask themselves whether or not they can do something to lessen the hardships of the salespeoples' lives.

consumers' league of ILLINOIS. CONSUMERS' STANDARD.

Children. — A standard house is one in which no child is allowed to work after six o'clock in the evening, and the requirements of the child-labor law are all complied with.

Wages. — A standard house is one in which equal pay is given for work of equal value, irrespective of sex. In the departments where women only are employed the minimum wages are $6 per week for adult workers of six months' experience, and fall in few instances below S8.

In which wages are paid weekly or fortnightly.

In which fines, if imposed, are paid into a fund for the benefit of the employes.

In which the minimum wages of cash girls and boys are $2.25 per week, with the same conditions regarding weekly payments and fines.

Hours. — A standard house is one in which the hours from 8 a. m. to 6 p. M. (with not less than three quarters of an hour for lunch) constitute the working day, and a general half holiday is given on one day of each week during the summer months.

In which a vacation of not less than one week is given, with pay, during the summer season to employes of six months' standing.