Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 5.djvu/317

 AIMS OF THE CONSUMERS' LEAGUE 303

coming meeting during the Christmas holidays. The Association of Collegiate Alumnœ, at its October meeting, considered the "New Economics in the Colleges Embraced within this Association," especial importance being attached to the teaching of the theory of consumption. The General Federation of Women's Clubs, at its biennial meeting in June, 1899, gave its principal evening session to the discussion of the principles and aims of the Consumers' League. State federations of women's clubs and individual clubs are asked to take up the subject, placing it on the programs of their public meetings.

In general, the power and usefulness of the Consumers' League will depend largely upon the intelligence and active work of the local organizations, and the degree of cooperation which these succeed in enlisting on the part of the general public. At present the league points out that consumers, even when unorganized, have power to put an end to the production of any given goods by refraining from purchasing them; to promote the production of others by demanding them. When organized, even very partially, consumers can decide, within certain limits, the conditions under which the desired goods shall be produced. Consumers have, however, done none of these things in an orderly and enlightened way, except so far as cooperative buying has been practiced and the adulteration of foods limited by legislation procured through the efforts of purchasers. The power of the purchaser, which is potentially unlimited, becomes great, in practice, just in proportion as purchasers become organized and enlightened, place themselves in direct communication with the producers, inform themselves exactly concerning the conditions of production and distribution, and are able thus to enforce their own will instead of submitting to the enticement and stimulus of the unscrupulous advertising seller.

Briefly stated, by way of resume, the aim of the National Consumers' League is to organize an effective demand for goods made under right conditions. As means to this end it endeavors:

I. To investigate existing conditions of production, and publish the results of its investigations.