The herald., 1896-07-08
Clerks ON sunday WORK
Some Officers of the Union
interviewed
They ARE SANGU|NE OF SUCCESS
And Believe the City Will Pass
the Ordinance
A LARGE NUMBER OF CLERKS
Who Have to Labor Seven Days Ia the
A LARGE NUMBER OF CLERKS
The Chief Agitators Are Themselves Free on
Sundays
But Are Working for the WesI Of Their Breth-
ren-Why Such Legislation 10 Ncces-
sary Tho Constitution Of
the Association


satisfied with the progress that their agl-
tation for Sunday closing ordinance is
making, and are sanguine Of eventual
success. Opinion on the question and
some information as to the constitution
of the Clerks association from some Of
the prominent spirits in the movement.
are given in the following interviews:
Capt. A. NJ Green, Of Jacoby's store,
former president Of the local branch
of the Retail Clerks National Protective
association, was seen yesterday after
noon by Herald reporter. Capt. Green
has been a prominent worker in the
movement, and in fact originated 1t In
July. 1893, when. however, the agitation
had to be temporarily abandoned from
lack of funds.
Capt Green said: IT am anxious In
the first place to disabuse the mind Of
the public from the idea that we were
working in concert with the Ministerial
Union. The movement originated en-
tirely from the Clerks association, and
certain ministers were merely good
enough to appear before the council mt
our request to give additional weight
to our cause. We have not approached
the subject from religious point of
view, but from a utilitarian and bene-
fetal standpoint
ITS POLITICAL ASPECT.
1.-The Democratic doctrine-I have been
a Democrat all my life-as to interfer-
ence with the liberty Of the individual
is urged against our crusade. utterly
fail to see it's application here. Is 1t
not absurd to tell people to do as they
please, to exercise their own will, when
those people haven't the privilege of do
ing so? A clerk depends entirely upon
the order of the individual employer
He cannot afford to rebel If he is required
to work seven days in the week. Person.
ally am thankful to say do not have
to work on Sunday, because my employ
ers close their store, but this fact does
not affect my zeal in the matter, since
] honestly believe there are at least 1000
clerks in this city who are compelled
to work on Sunday"
CLERKS AND THE ASSOCIATION.
| This figure seemed inordinately large
and Capt. Green was closely questioned
| as to the number of places of business
| that remain open Sunday.
| He said: "They are for the most part
those that you might not come across,
although, If you walk down Main street
on Sunday, you will be surprised at the
number of stores that are open there. A
few also on Spring street, exclusive Of
cigar and fruitstands. remain open, but
it is mostly in the outlying districts that
you will notice them; the majority of
smaller groceries do not think OF clos
ing"
THE PRINCIPLES OF THE UNION
Now as to your association, captain
What are the qualifications for member
ship and what classes are eligible?"
ANY person, male or female, employed
in any branch of retail trade, with the
exception of the liquor trade, actively
engaged at the time of application and
of the age of 1S, is eligible"
what is your present membership"
"Eighty-five active members"
How do you account for so small
membership from so large class?"
"The local branch is only young as
yet"
Are men afraid to join lest they Of
| fend their employers?"
There is no reason why they should
| be, if they were acquainted with our
| constitution, but we have had little time
| as yet to do much missionary work. We
have no strikes, no boycotts, no sched-
| ule of salaries; in fact, we do not at
tempt to dictate to our employers in any
way. Our objects briefly are to shorten
| the hours of labor, to persuade people
to purchase by daylight and to be as
| sured one day of rest; these are the
fundamental principles of the organiza-
| ton. The eig1lth clause of our declara-
| ton of principles is as follows: We
denounce the desecration of Sunday by
INSCRIPTIONS employers compelling
| clerks to forfeit their freedom by work.
ing on that day; and we declare that
this abuse shall be abolished, where laws
exist pertaining to said desecration they
should be rigidly enforced, and where
they do not exist they should be framed
at once and put into effect, and we
pledge ourselves to do all in our power
| to have them enforced.
1.-THE third clause reads: We especial
ly denounce the system of slavery per-
| petrated upon our fellow clerks by be-
ing compelled to labor fourteen and six
| teen hours daily to accomplish that
which could be done in ten, and we will
work increasingly until this inhuman
| and Unnecessary evil Is remedied. To
educate the masses to daylight pur-
chasing shall be our chief aim
| CLERKS ONLY SUFFER so
"It is a mistake to suppose that any
| other class of employees are liable or
have to suffer similar hardships. Take
the case of street car motormen and con-
| ductors. A system of shifts is arranged
| so that each employe has his weekly
| day of rest. Clerks are the only class
| of employees who have hours to which
there is practically no limit"
| How about newspaper men, and how
would you like to do without your Mon
days Herald?"
Il believe we could stand even that