The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-11
HE SAYS IT'S RIGHT.
What Grocer Has to Say About the Reduct on
of Worsirg Hours.

The following letter from prominent
grocer was received late last night, which
will explain itself:
To the Editor OF the Eagle.
| read the remarks of the EAGLE on
7 thursday morning with reference to a re-
duction Of the working hours of grocery
clerks, and l must state as a proprietor
that they wers strictly in harmony with
my views in the matter. 1t cannot be de-
uied that we treat "our boys" shamefully
by compelling them to work from sixteen
TO eighteen hours per day. l try to pay
my boys salary commensurate with their
long hours, but even then think I am
working a hardship on them. For even
money it is hardly right for US grccers TO
keep our employees away from their homes
so long. They have tamihes which
they love as dearly as the dry goods
clerks and bank clerks do, and say give
them a chance to spend few hours at
home with them Don't you know it is
the most joyful thing on earth TO go home
after q days work. and be met with kiss
from your little girl or little boy. and TO
take them on your lap and play with them.
Under the present condition of things the
grocery clerk can't possibly indulge in
this kind of happiness. They leave home
in the morning before their children are
out of bed and return at night when they
are asleep. The only chance they have to
see them at all is on Sunday or at dinner
and supper. Somebody might say, well,
if you are so considerable for the happiness
OF your employees. why don't you let them
go home earlier?" My answer is plain. If
| closed my store at 7:30 my competitors
would take away my trade in no time, and
I would, in time have to take a
clerkship myself and become the slave Of
some less considerable master. The only
way justice can be done TO the clerks as
well as to the proprietors is to have all the
stores closed at the same time. This can
be done and all will have fair show.
Thirteen or founteen hours are sufficient
for any community OF people to do their
grocery pur chasing, and l am sure that
nobody will kick, after the matter is I'M
derstood, for more time. The people, as
rule, love fairness ANA sympathize with
the overworked and | am confident if the
stores close at 730 and stay closed till the
next morning, that the people generally
will approve of il. Now, then, we have
been experimenting lately with this prob
lem and up to date we have prevailed upon
about seventy three or seventy-tour OF the
grocers of the city to shut up shop at
7:30, but there are yet some five or six
who, am sorry to say, have
showed no inclination to be as generous or
just as the majority. They persist in stay
ing open two or three hours longer to
catch few dimes in preference to allow
ing their boys to go home and get ac-
quainted with their families. Now, then,
if they persist in staying open till 10
O'Clock, we must also remain open for
self protection, and thus less, perhaps.
than half dozen men will compel from
100 to 125 others to remain away from their
homes and families. l appeal in the name
of fairness to the good people of Wichita
to take some action in behalf of the over
taxed grocery clerk. / hope the customers
of those who remain open will tell them
hat if they want their trade they must
act generously toward their employees. If
this is done the stores of the city will all
close inside of week, and the clerks, as
well as the majority of the employers, will
feel grateful to them. Thanking you for
your space, remain, yours truly,
Justice"