The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-14


great store. The employees have
savings bank, building and insurance
associations, library and woman's
hotel, and even the casual visitor can
not but feel that here there is dis
tinctly different spirit to that shown
in the mammoth department stores of
other cities, where the employees have
only the meager interest such as is
natural to hard-worked and poorly
paid clerks.
1t is not surprising, therefore, that
New York has welcomed the advent
of Philadelphia merchant prince
and that he will be equally success
full in the new field as in the old
scarcely admits of doubt.
The greatest cause of danger in
any State or government arises from
the shrewdness and business in
stincts of men who may be called
the Napoleons of business and
finance. Under our government
there is practically no limit to the
millions such men may pile up by
ways which are strictly within the
cover of the law, though in reality
striking at the sense of justice which
lies at the foundation of society. Yet
so complex are the ramifcations of
our social system that it is extremely
difficult to say where the morally
legitimate in such business ends
and what in the business world is
regarded as Legitimate" begins. Po-
litical economy as expounded by
Adam Smith and practically all ex-
ponents of "the dismal science" since
his day, offers no help, but is a posi-
tive hindrance to the development of
that broad spirit of human brother
hood and benefcence which is the
dream of the poet and the Christian.
To buy in cheap market and sell
in dear one is legitimate enough in
many cases, but when it comes to
buying human lives and possibilities
of happiness or misery and selling
them, for all that can be obtained for
them, the question takes in a wholly
different aspect. Take, for instance,
what may seem to be trivial matter,
the lunch hour in the big department
stores of this city. In these it is usual
to give only half an hour at noon for
lunch. AS the wages paid do not, in
the majority of cases, warrant even
small expenditure for lunch, many
take their lunch with them to the
stores and then get cup of coffee or
tea at the restaurant of the big store
at which they are employed. AS the
number of these employees is large
and the crowds are greater in the
store at that time of the day, it usu-
ally takes fifteen or twenty minutes
to get the coffee or tea, Leaving per
haps ten or fifteen minutes for the
lunch, and then back to business
until six o'clock in the evening. AS
it is indispensable in such large es-
Establishments that everything be done
by system, it is necessary usually for
the clerk to get his or her ''ticket of
leave" so to speak, and again to re.
port after lunch. As most of these
clerks stand during the entire day it
requires no imagination to under
stand how much enthusiasm in bust.
ness clerks at $4.00 or $500 or even
$500 or $40 per week will manifest in
the work under such circumstances.
That they are as patient, cheerful
and willing as they are becomes a
wonder, for it is, in fact, a kind of
commercial slavery to which they are
subjected. Surely if ever there was a
field where cooperation is needed
and imperatively demanded it tisin the
big department stores of our cities.
Without the faithful co operation of
these hundreds of young men and
women, boys and girls, these great
stores could not do business for a
day. Theirs are the Alladin hands
that deftlY and swiftly pile up the
colossal wealth represented in such
an establishment, and certainly, as
Mr.. Wannamaker's experience has
abundantly proven, the business
would flourish even better were they
made to feel that they also are part
owners in the great establishment
and that their toll and the exactiug
lives they lead will win an adequate
pecuniary reward.
Only two instances of cooperation
have been cited. Dozens might be
given and all would teach the same
lesson.
Unfortunately, however, there are
but few Wannamakers in the busi-
ness world and as for legal enactment
as regards justice between man and