The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-07
TOO MUCH WORK.
Two Topeka Merchants Insist
on Keeping Their Stores
Open to Unusually Late Hours
In the Evening.
FORCING THE OTHERS
To Also Keep Their Doors I'm
locked to Custom.
An Injustice to Hundreds of
Store Clerks.
Clerks Use Moral SuasiOn to
Stop the Practice.
FORCING THE OTHERS

The first aggressive step to be taken
by the Retail Clerks association to
compel all the merchants of the city to
close their stores at $50. was made last
night and was directed against Morris
AffrOn, proprietor of the Globe Clothing
company, and A. SamueIs. Both of these
men have clothing stores on the east
side of Kansas avenue, between Fifth
and Sixth
Sixty members of the clerks associa-
tion lined up in front of these two stores
at $50 last evening and collared every
man who attempted to enter either eS-
tablishment, in an endeavor to stop peo-
pie from trading after the time when
the remainder of the stores had closed
The early closing of the stores was in
augurated last Monday evening. Nearly
every retail store in the city closed
promptly at $50, but a few remained
open, among them Mr.. AffrOn and Mr.
Samuels. The Star clothing store at 420
Kansas avenue has been remaining
open, but it closed at $3.50 last evening.
The clerks have been making every
effort possible to persuade the recalcl-
trants to close, and they succeeded with
all but the two firms mentioned, who
contended that it would destroy large
part OF their trade if they closed at
6:30. Some of the other clothing mer-
chants said they could not afford to
close their stores if these two did not
also, and it appeared as though the en-
tire movement to shorten the working
hours OF the clerks would fail. At a
last resort the clerks determined upon
organized effort to keep people from
trading with the recalcitrantS after
closing hours. AS soon as the other
stores closed last night the clerks gath
cred in front of the two eStab ablishmentS
which were still open and trying to do
business The walks became crowded
and spectators gathered to watch pro-
ceedings. Every man who looked as
though he intended to enter either of
the stores was promptly stopped and
the situation explained to him from the
standpoint Of the clerks, and the re-
suit was that very few men went on in
to the stores to make purchases.
The entire crowd and both the mer-
chants took it good naturedIy, and there
was no disturbance whatever. Several
amusing incidents occurred One man
came along who wanted a pair of rub
bers. Some of the clerks knew him and
tried to keep him from going into the
store.
But am going out where it's muddy
and 1 need the rubbers,'' he said.
Come around in the morning and I'll
give you pair said a clerk.
That won't do me any good tonight
responded the man.
Here, III fix you said another
clerk. Take my rubbers," and he
handed them over to the man.
There were several instances of this
character but no one. got mad. The
proprietors of the two stores tried to
make peace by offering to close at 1880,
but as such an arrangement would inter-
fere with the entire plan the clerks
would not accept it. A little after
o'clock Mr. Affron, seeing that he would
gain nothing by remaining open, closed
his store, and at 1880 MIR. SamuelS
closed. The clerks then went home, but
declare that they will repeat the per-
formance tonight, and keep it up
long as the two men persist in keeping
their stores open.
1T is simply a question of whether
these two men will close their stores or
whether every clerk in Topeka shall be
compelled to work three hours longer
than they ought to-" said a leader of
the clerks to a Journal reporter. We
do not wish to boycott these two firms,
but we simply ask people to trade with
those firms who are willing to give
their clerks a little more time in the
evenings. We make no threats, but we
are confident will win in this matter.
All of the la Dor organizations of Topeka
are behind us, and the better class of
merchants are willing to close; but if
some remain open it means that all
must remain open to keep up their end
of the trade. All of the smaller cities
of the state close early, and there is no
reason why the clerks of Topeka should
be compelled to work three or four
hours after other people quit.
THE membership of the clerks union
takes in practically all the statesmen in
the city, and we are determined on two
things-to close the stores at $50, and
to stop Sunday trading. Although we
have a law against doing business on
Sunday there is a great deal of it done,
and clerks are afraid to refuse to work
for fear of losing their jobs.
There will be a larger crowd on hand
tonight than there was last night to
persuade people to trade with the mer-
chants who close, and we will keep it
up until those two firms agree to close.
There has been an agreement to close
at 7:30 for years, but no one has ever
lived up to it, for the reason that every
one has been to supper by that time
and each one waits for the other to
close"
Both Mr.. Samuels and Mr.. Affron say
that they can not afford to close at $780,
THE greater part of my trade" said
Mr. Affron, comes from laboring people
who have to work till o'clock and who
can not get up town by $50. Since last
Monday 1 have been keeping account
| of our business which comes in after
supper and l find that more than so
| per cent of it is in the evening. If 1
close when the clerks want me to it
| means that 1 will throw away half my
| trade.
Then. again, in the summer time it
| is hot during the afternoon on this side
] of the street, and people do their trad
| ing on the other side, where 1T is shady
| but after supper they will come over
on this side. 1t is unpleasant to have
| any trouble with the clerks. but 1 will
| have to keep my store open, although 1
| am willing to close at 7:30 an ac-
| la n them -