Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/314

 300 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

of the fact that the cheapening of ready-made garments has brought relief to many an overburdened mother whose days are all too short to give time for the family sewing.

My experience in the shop of Herr G. forced upon me the conclusion that no money would induce me to buy knee pants without finding out first of all, if possible, where they were made. It is the duty of the consumer to acquaint himself with the conditions of production. And we who buy need not soothe our consciences with the belief that we are helpless in the mat- ter, while the people who give out the work are the only sinners. This may be comfortable, but it is criminal. The contractor gives us what we are willing to take. Sufficient protest from us will induce him to change his method, if it be objectionable.

My second employer was a frail-looking woman with a Polish name. She and her daughter were working on women's cotton wrappers. When I appeared asking for work, they were skep- tical about needing help, but finally told me I could stay, and if I proved useful they would give me fifty cents a day. I evi- dently lived up to their expectation, for they kept me four days, when they dismissed me. We commenced to work about eight in the morning, and worked steadily until about half-past six, with a few minutes for lunch. I carried a lunch with me and ate it alone in the bedroom where we sewed ; the others ate in the little kitchen, the only remaining room in the tenement flat. I found that the daughter slept in the kitchen, while the father and mother occupied the bedroom. The father was an unskilled laborer and worked at odd jobs. Thus the living- and sleeping- and workrooms were one a distinct violation of the state factory and workshops act.

This condition exists in places too numerous to mention, and the fact that it does exist casts no odium on the factory inspect- ors, who are conscientious and efficient, but in numbers wholly inadequate to cope with the situation. There are but nineteen for Illinois, while New York has fifty, Massachusetts thirty, and Pennsylvania twenty-six. It takes eight deputies three months to inspect the sweat-shops in Chicago once. It is clear that an annual inspection is insufficient. The inspectors visit the