CONSUMERS' LEAGUE. An "association of persons who desire, so far as possible, to do their buying in such a way as to further the wel fare of those who make or distribute the things bought." It recognizes that every one is a con sumer; that the individual purchaser is indi rectly a maker of goods and an employer of labor, and that as an individual he often has no test for goods. In harmony with the new politi cal economy represented by Professor Patten, Professor Marshall, and others, which puts the emphasis upon consumption, the League offers a means of organizing and educating consumers to a knowledge of their responsibilities. The move ment started in England in 1890. About the same time the Working Women's Society of New York was investigating the condition of women and cash-girls in the stores of that city. They called a public meeting in May, 1890, to ask the help of consumers in bettering these conditions, and as a result the Consumers' League of New York was formed in January, 1S91. Similar leagues have since been organized in Pennsyl vania, Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The work of the leagues has been principally: (1) to try to reform the conditions of workers in retail stores; and (2) to educate buyers, especially women. The leagues, according to the needs of their respective cities, drew up lists of conditions which a store must maintain in order to be called a 'fair house.' Some or all of the following points are considered: (1) wages (fines, time of payment, or minimum wage) ; (2) hours (length of working day and compensation for overtime) ; (3) vacations (week with pay, half holiday during two summer months, legal holi days) ; (4) physical conditions (seats, sanitary work, lunch and retiring rooms) ; (5) humane treatment, appreciation of fidelity and length of service, and the employment of children. The stores that fulfill these conditions are placed on the 'white list.' Members of the League are urged to do their buying at these stores, and to show consideration for employees by courteous treatment and in the choice of purchasing hours.
The promoters of the League soon found that its work must be extended to reach the makers of goods, both to improve their conditions, and to protect the purchaser, who had no way to dis tinguish between factory-made goods and those made or finished in sweat-shops. Accordingly the National Consumers' League was organized in 1899 with Mrs Florence Kelly, who had been a successful factory inspector in Illinois. as secre tary. In order to identify the factory-made article a 'consumers' label' was adopted. which can be placed on goods made in factories main taining the following conditions: (1) compli ance with State factory law; (2) the manufac ture of the goods on the premises; (3) no child under sixteen employed; (4) a ten-hour day; (5) permission given for inspection by a repre sentative of the League. During its first year's work the National by means of the vis its of its secretary, investigated factories making white goods. A list of fifteen factories was pre pared whose conditions were satisfactory and whose owners were willing to use the label. The National League has provided for the education of purchasers through lectures, the distribution of literature, and organization. The State leagues use similar methods, and, also, arrange parlor, church, and school talks. Although the member ship of the League is still small, it is likely to prove an important educational factor in the community.
BIBLIOGRAPHY. Brooks, The Consumers' League Bibliography. Brooks, The Consumers' League Reports (New York, 1896, et seq.) ; Lowell, Consumers' League (Ne• York, 1896) ; North American Review, 166 (New York, 1S98) ; Ameri can Journal of Nociology, vol. v. (Chicago, 1901) ; A Imals of .1merican Academy Bulletin, N. S. No. 5 (Philadelphia. 189S) Reports of National, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania leagues. Literature may be obtained at the office of the National Consumers' League, 105 East Twenty-second Street, New York.
See FACTORY INSPECTION ; SWEAT-SHOPS; UNION LABEL.