Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/783

 WORK AND PROBLEMS OF CONSUMERS' LEAGUE 769

factories with modern machinery is absurd. Coupled with the production of clothing through the medium of unskilled and poorly paid wage-earners has come the sweat-shop with all its unsanitary conditions endangering the lives of many con- sumers. It is here possibly that the Consumers' League had its origin. Many persons, recognizing the fact that there were bad sanitary conditions in such methods of manufacture in the cloth- ing trades, and that the workers employed received low wages and worked long hours, have formed what they call consumers' leagues for the express purpose of bringing to bear the criticism and hostile action of large bodies of consumers. This part of the work of the Consumers' League soon led into the organiza- tion of the national body, largely given over to the consideration of national effects of unsanitary methods of manufacture. In various cities of our country many conditions have been found to exist in selling places that are opposed to the best interests of the community and the highest efficiency of the worker. It was ascertained that long hours were the rule, and poor arrangement, of an unsanitary nature, existed in the store. Thus two forms of the Consumers' League have appeared, one dealing with the national phase of the question, and the other with the local side. The object of the local league is to improve the conditions of employes as to hours and wages through public opinion, law, and the action of consumers. It is proposed to do this in a number of ways. First of all it is recognized that the majority of employers are virtually helpless to improve the conditions of their stores. A member of the Consumers' League must early recognize this fact. Merchants may be likened to vessels in a swift stream, the stream being known by the name of compe- tition. They are carried along by the current, and although they would oftentimes like to pay higher wages and to give their employes the benefit of the higher wages, nevertheless they feel that any such action on their part without corresponding action on the part of their competitors will increase the cost of hand- ling their business, and as a result cut down the small margin of profits that are made in these days, forcing them out of business. Undoubtedly this is true, providing higher wages do not produce