The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
WOES OF BANNER PACKERS.
HUMAN FAILURES VINO CARRY SIGNS
ABOUT THE STREETS.
Perhaps 1900 ofThem In This City-Prscau-
lions to Prevent Them from Striking
Low Pay and Hard Work the Rule
AlanA Il he. InlderlH Mali


Most of Them Elderly Men.
His aspect was that Of creature hopelessly
gone TO seed. HIS movements betrayed listless
ness which fiery, sodden face framed in I'M
kempt white hair and beard denoted was born
OF moral apathy. From his neck hung cheap
nickel clock Over his slender. narrow shoulders
doomed great Ocloth banner inscribed with
gilt letters, which advertised to Broadway's null
ttude the eminent superiority OF somebody's
shoes for he was pcripatctic sign man who
went floating along in the human until an
eddy tossed him into dark side street with a
precipitation due. perhaps. TO the presence of a
dingy, forlorn little saloon Of evil and far-rcach-
ing odors.
Sling a drink into me? Sure" said he 10 the
curious observer who had followed his move
ments. "Why not? As the Governor Of North
Carolina-but that's the regular panhandler's
stock remark isn't it, Lord knows I'm
not Of that ilk. although a banner packer isn't
high in the social scale by several classes removed
Who am 1? Nobody but the veteran banner
luggcr in broadway. Otherwise viewed an
atom Of the social system, I'm blot child Of
the gutter and all the usual rot which an emo
tional imagination may be able to supply.
never long on adjcotivcs, and sentiment
and parted company years ago. But, as | say.
I'm the veteran banner packer In this human
wilderness, for have been at II through storm
and sunshine for years come December,
and that with few interruptions TO appease tho
longings OF moral delinquency common TO the
race Of banner packers Appear TO have some
education? | don't know. Maybe had once.
but I'm too much OF philosopher for remnis-
cence."
Better remove your-your banner" suggested
the curious observer as they entered the dingy,
forlorn little saloon. You'll feel easier"
u.T. "
ally. Locked in"
Locked in! You don't mean it?'
YES that's Gospel fact, continued the packer.
edgng himself through the narrow door. You
will notice that the shoulder pieces attached to
my banner part of an iron band which goes
around my waist At the back the band works
on hinges, and IL is locked on me by the foreman
of the banner packers when start out in the morn
ing, | come back to the starting point at noon
and the foreman unlucks them. thus leaving me
free for hour TO eat if have the price of morscl
or SO, to loaf around wishing was some one
else with my teeth aching from too close appli-
cation TO trufes and pheasant II l haven't Then
al one O'Clock | am locked into my iron frame
again and set forth To pack the banner until six
o'clock. when my work for the day ends and
am at liberty TO go to my lodgings or hell; II is
small matter. smaller difference Here's how,
anyway. II there en- husasm in my manner,
al least believe void of hostility that's the
nearest ] can connect with gratitude" and the
derclict sent frothing cloud from his imposing
schooner flying to the sawdust sprinkled floor
Virtually, then, you are prisoner during your
working hours >" said the curious observer
Virtually. yes" responded the banner packer.
Il am one Of the hundreds who patrolling the
streets of New York day in iron frames and who
are Just as much imprisoned our friends in
and chain For certain hours we move up and
down locked in irons and although our shoulders
may become racked with pain we have no relief
except at the noon hour and quitting time. unless
we return between times and resign our Jobs
Why are you locked in the frames"
S'rcause the advertisers demand it, Many
months ago they discovered that majority of
their perlpatctic sign men were dishonest and
awaited themselves of every opportunity to hide
their signs soon as they were out OF sight of
the establishments employing them. They
would sneak away from Broadway and other
and loaf in the parks or Bowery ,groggeries, re
turning at night 10 make stupendOus bluff about
having worked like beggars oil day. That is
why the locked sign has become common Ad-
yertisers now demand II. But it's cruel. you may
believe; worse than the punishments provided
for recognized feons. The weight Of the banner
is not always responsible for the aching shoulders
often when the wind is sweeping strong II shoves
the banner and the packer along at such a rate
that unless the latter hustles with unusual vigor
II Will ovcrpower him, for banner packers are
never robust men, as you have noticed, no
a vicious blow. In bracing himself against the
wind most Of the burden falls upon the packers
additional weight, are soon a mass of pain. II
the packer sports lock up banner there is no re
lei for him except to report to NE foreman, which
means that he must lay OIL and lose money.
How many banner packers are there here"
Fifteen hundred, should say There cannot
be less, and they are coming and going all the
advanced
middle age. Advertisers do not seem well dis.
posed toward young men or boys for the purpose
The latter, they contend, are sure to abandon
the field after n very short trial and put the en-
poyer TO the trouble Of hiring others, II is the
gutter before they will accept such employment,
So the restaurant keepers, jewelers., dentists,
road ticket scalpers, tailors typewriter manufac-
turers. shoe dealers and others who seem to think
their business is best adver Used by such means
must seek recruits among the older fellows who
are hopelessly beneath consideration for a better
situation in commercial life. AS We are short
lived crew, the advertisers foremen must be CON
stantly on the alert for new men. Few OF us live
more than three or four years after we begin TO
puck what with the ex posurc long hours OF weary
which brought most of us 10 this business. There
fore suppose ! may point with pride to the fact
that have packed Tor seven years with praisee
worthy steadiness punctuaed here and there
BY intervals Of backsliding to daily with rum
vite me and let's curse ourselves afreshr
How about the sandwich man"
ne VOCATION OF tIlht Olu inner Is AT an end
The banner packer has usurped and elevated his
boards, The philosophy Of this is easily grasped
Business men who make use OF the pcrambulating
signs have observed the fact that in a crowded
street the signs suspended from the shoulders of
a sandwich man are scarcely perceptibe, Peies-
TRANS are invariably hemminR them in, making
it impossible for others to see the advertisements
ON the boards. So little reason made il patent
that the only way to insure attention for peram-
bula. N-n advertisements was 10 elevate them
above IT, 4dS Of the crowd In this way the
banner Alta he'd TO the packers shoulders and the
banner attached to pole which is carried in a
socket like a flag have come into general use"
DO you <" directly to your employers place OF
business"
NO II the restaurant or shop We advertise is
at all pretcntous the banner packers and their
signs are, invariably kept in the background
The usual met hod adopted by those who employ
many packers is to hire place in locality where
rents are very modest 10 serve headquar ters
for the open air forces, we facetiousy dub our
selves, for we're merry dogs, even in our troubles
This place is usually in charge OF fellow who
acts as foreman Of banner packers, and he has
a mighty soft sybaritic time OF il in comparison
to us who tramp the streets from morning till
night Still he is an officer really necessary TO
those who have considerable force in the streets
His principal duty is To keep the signs moving in
the right directions although he doesn't pack a
banner himself Some firms have many as