Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/790

 776 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

National Consumers' League can say to manufacturers : " You shall not sell your products to the merchants that are not on the white list of the local Consumers' League." Hence it has been found that in some cities the store which is farthest from the ethical standard established by the organization carries the largest line of labeled goods. Often the most expensive kind of commodities bear the Consumers' League label. This means that the large purchase of such articles is impossible, and that the label itself is not a guarantee at all that the local problem will be solved. In fact, there may be a contest and a conflict between the national and local Consumers' League, if the first attempts to push the sale of all Consumers' League goods regardless of the local problem. Good judgment will undoubt- edly meet any difficulties arising from this point.

Looking back over the movement, it would appear that it is based upon the following suppositions :

1. That the consumer can be educated.

2. That the producer, distributor, and consumer are coop- erators in a great wealth problem.

3. That production and distribution are carried on under unsocial conditions.

4. That competition and neglect of consumers are responsible for this condition.

5. Well-directed organization of intelligent consumers can change methods of manufacture or sale.

A summary of the problems of the league divides them, first, as local and, second, as national. In brief, the local problems are :

1. Educational, the creation of an ethical demand among consumers.

2. Investigation of stores and factories.

3. The establishment of a standard known as a " fair house.'

4. The publication of the "white list."

5. Alliance with trades unions and kindred organizations.

6. Constant agitation by printed circular, lecture, and per- sonal solicitation.

The national problems are :

1. Investigation of factories and workshops.

2. Enforcement of factory laws.