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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY
weary women, the adequacy of whose compensation bears no fitting relation to the labor contributed to society. Such a con- dition is fatal to progress in its widest sense.
This may apply with equal truth to other branches of indus- try, but that does not weaken its potency as an argument for
change in this particu- lar occupation. Sweated goods are a constant menace to society, both in the injury done to the workers owing to the bad conditions un- der which they work, and in the liability from exposure to contagious diseases ; and popular opinion should support this verdict. Theoreti- cally this is indorsed by all intelligent people, but an indorsement to be of any avail must be capable of practical demonstration. In this case it must mean an
utter rejection of garments thus made, and this implies insistence upon a label assuring the buyer that the article in question either was or was not made in a sweat-shop. In either case he could make his own choice.
As each buyer cannot become a volunteer inspector, the most rational method of attaining his end is to unite his protest to an organized one and thus increase its potency. The Consumers' League 1 is a rational and effective crusade in favor of goods made under wholesome conditions, and its guarantee carries weight. It 'seems therefore a simple thing for the purchaser of ready- made clothing to aid in the effort to crystallize public opinion 1 National headquarters in New York city.
GIRL FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE WHO RUNS A MACHINE ALL DAY.
