The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-29
THE LADIES BEHIND THE COUNTER.
sufferings and Tribulations Of the saleswomen--
They Fear to Tell the Story Of Their
Troubles-"Netta" Tells It.


among the saeswomen employed In the retain fancy
goods stores OF the metropolis, the object Of which
to obtain concessions from employers In regard
10 the hours Of labor and the rigid rules adopted
for their government while performing their duties
behind the counter. The principal mover Ia the
AFFAIR was Miss Meta" who by the publication
vi number OF sharp and pithy COMMUNICATIONS IN
regard to alleged abuses practised la ploml-
nent stores located in Broadway, Bowery,
Grand street. and Sixth, Seventh and Eighth
avenues drew forth large number OF
spicy communications, attacking or defending
the correctness OF her statements and causing no
little commotion in the various shops. On the even
ing OF the 18th inst meeting beEl at Plimpton
Hall, attended by considerable number of sales
women and a lesser number OF members OF the "Dry
Goods Clerks Early Closing Association" when
PLAN or ORGANIZATION
was adopted FOR the purpose OF pressing the desired
reforms upon the merchants. temporary
president was chosen, and amid great
enthusiasm The ladies signed the roll OF
membership. Al this meeting the male clerks
gallanty rendered their sympathy and cooperation.
A second meeting took place on the evening OF the
2lst INST, and the following permanent officers were
elected:-President Charles Wittenbucker; Vice
President, Miss "Netta;n Recording Secretary. Miss
Josephine Crawford; Corresponding Secretary, Miss
Smith; Financial Secretary Miss Donnelly No
treasurer was elected, nor any money paid by the
ladies, who came IN large numbers. such employ
ers as were IN favor of the were requested
10 send delegates from the ranks OF their
employees 10 attend the next meeting
Subsequent TO this meeting was published
'NETTA'sn APPEAL e.~.~,
paper which recited the grievances OF the sales
women and earnestly solicited their attendance at
the subsequent meetings. Among other statements
which this paper contained were the followIng:-
IN many Of the leading houses delicate saleswomen
ana litLe cash girls are compelled To remain stand
ing ON their feet from twelve TO fourteen hours per
cay with one half hour for meals to the aetriment
oi their health and prevention OF moral and religious
culture rest or recreation. AS as the dull
season sets IN many are discharged broken down
and thrown upon the mercy OF The world.
IA eswomen do NOT expect 10 be retained in those
stores which are closing now at seven p. NJ. for the
summer season ony the proprietols VIII discharge
you on the approach Of the next dun season. and YOU
VIII be compelled, perhaps, TO work IN other stores
which Keep open I'LL eleven or twelve O'Clock every
night VIII you submit TO such imposition and
tranyY Our cause Is the same as that OF the dry
goous clerks In which they have been successful for
period OF nine years, and we, too will be successful
VIII endure next winter, compelled 10 stand ali day
and evening in your wet shoes and stockings. and
or warm your CHILLED booes walking home at
eleven or twelve O'Clock at night through the sush
ana rain PERHAPS ana earning only the paltry sum
Will you not try TO lessen these long hours Many
nooie-hearted employers have sent delegations from
thelr stores to JON our organization and the rest
hnding us united and believing we are bound TO
succeed. Will more readily grant what we desire.
On Wednesday and Thursday HERALD reporter
visited some OF the prominent stores referred to by
the saleswomen as among the ones where the girls
suffered the greatest restrictions to their personal
comfort from being obliged keep their feet at all
hours, whether customers were present or not, and
from certain petty aunoyances which were detailed.
cd no loar hot
they were accustomed TO close at seven p. NJ. and
one Of them IN Sixth avenue closed at one O'Clock
on Saturdays The saleswomen IN Grand street
showed some restraint in conversing, but wered
viyaciously enough That they were
AT LIBERTY TO SIT DOWN
when no customers approached Them and at such
times they occupied themselves in sewing such
tribes as were made up from materials in the store
One young lady said that she not interested in
the movement, though she should Glove dearly to
see Netta," and added that she had been employed
In her present place for seven years. She received
a fair salary and well satisfied. However, she
knew that there were many not 30 fortunate as |
herself, and hoped in her heart they would
succeed. Occasional knowing glances and smiles |
exchanged bet ween the girls indicated that they |
were sometimes Disgusting. sometimes twisting
what should have been the unreserved truth and |
subsequently revelations will be made TO support |
that hypothesis 1--WE can't tell you anything In the
store, said another in Grand street. because If IT
were found out we should be turned away. l. for
one, would like 70 attend the meetings at the Plimp
ton building, but hardly dare go Tor would
leak out through some or the other girs.n II don't
care" said another; I'm not going to stay in this
business only till tall, when Pm going home, and III
go n can &c. some Of the other girls to 90 with |
me.n
81 WANT TO GO REAL BAD, SIR
ony i've In Forty nfth street, and shouldn't like
70 go nome al such late hour as 1t VIII be at the
close OF the meeting. don't get as much salary as
Maggie gets, but have day of once in awhile,
and bring my dinner from home, so that | don't
nave 10 pay the proprietor Tor that, nor run like
crazy thng, going ana coming AT the dinner hour"
Yes lnterposed Maggie "the dinner hour that
get IS nall an hour, and don't have minute only
sundays"
In Broadway store one of the young ladies said
I'VE are very comfortable; we are paid to work and
we expect TO do It, The proprietor OF this store
gentleman and treats US as ladies' 10 be we
would IKE 10 get of a little earlier on Saturday |
say at one O'CLOCK, Tor nsJance-and for other |
days we close quite early now.n
Eyes, one O'Clock Saturday would be SO nice Oh |
yes we could SIT down when there were no custom
eEs inf we had stools benind the counter to sit
npon.n
THE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
There were between forty and fifty ladies present
at the meeting last night, and perhaps thirty gen.
tlemen.
The president Charles Wttenbucker, called the
meeting 10 order and after the minutes Of the pre-
ceding meeting were read and adopted he spoke as
iolows-w When the Dry Goods Clerks Early Closing |
Association was formed they were met by opposition
and obstacles which were almost insurmountable,
=.
dies by unanmity and earnestness OF action Will win |
the light as the clerks did. But the clerks 90 not
wish TO ala the movement as they have volun- |
feered to do unless the young ladies shall take |
the fullest interest themselves and least come to
the meeting on each Thursday night. 1t Is well |
known, however that many cannot choose an even |
ing TO leave the store IN which they employed.
gentleman has issued a challenge to discuss the
question OF early closing with any Of the young |
ladies. He Is clerk from a store in avenue d, |
which remains open IN twelve O'Clock at night.
We do not wish to discuss the question with Mr.. |
Osheim but VIII be happy TO enter into discussion
with any employer who will come here. The clerks |
who come TO speak against the movement are not in
nuenced by any right feeling. They come TO see the
girls which Is all proper enough In Its way, but to
zee the girls should not be the only object OF at
tendance In little while we hope the organiza- |
ton Will be strong enough TO carry the war into the
enemy's camp and see how they feel.
On motion an initiatory fee OF nifty cents each was
levied
Lady member stated that ten or twelve stores in
Division street were opposed TO early closing, |