The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-14
RETAIL CLERKS ORGANIZE
THEY PROPOSE TO FURTHER THE
SUNDAY CLOSING MOVEMENT.
Plans Outlined at n Meeting of Clerks
Shelby Street-WiIl CO.
Operate with GrOcers.

What will probably be a general Sunday
closing movement in Indianapolis was
started by the retail grocery clerks of the
city at meeting held at I'LL Shelby
street last night, where the nucleus of an
organization was formed. The prime OBJ
ject of the organizat ton is to close all gro
Gerry stores on Sunday. Secretary Charles
H. Taylor, of the Retail Grocers' Associa-
ton, attended the meeting and assured the
clerks that the employers organization
would stand by them. He made brief
speech, in which he said the retail grocers
were pleased to see the clerks organizing
and he hoped that they would make their
organization a cooperative body in assist
ing the grocers to eradicate many existing
evils He said he would be glad to see the
clerks make their organization an auxiliary
to the grocers' association, as their in
terests are identical and they would be
of much assistance to each other. The
clerks will hold another meeting in the
same hall next Wednesday night to COM
plete the organization.
Both grocers and clerks complain Sc
riously about keeping open on Sunday. The
custom has grown old and many patrons
depend upon groceries being open Sunday
for their Sunday provisions and especially
meats. The grocers' association has shown
some delicacy about discussing Sunday
closing on account of a possibility of los
ing customers, but personally they all favor
the movement. 1t is only by unanimous
consent that they hope TO reform the pres
ent system, and now that the clerks nave
taken up the matter, they hope to accom-
plish the reform by acting jointly. The
clerks recognize the interests or their EN-
plOyers in the movement and propose 10
close all bakeries and meat markets as well
as grocery stores, or any business house
that completes with the groceries.
All over the city bakeries have gradually
been adding canned goods TO their stock,
and some have even grown into regular
grocery stores. For this reason the clerks
think they will have to close. Meat mar
kets are also competitors, as nearly every
grocery store handles meats, and they con-
slider it essential that they be closed. The
clerks have been somewhat umld about
their organization, fearing that ii might
meet with opposition from their employ
ers. but since Mr.. Taylor assured them
they would have the assistance of the gro
GERS association they have taken heart
and will push the movement. They have
not yet decided whether they will maintain
an individual organization or affiliate with
labor organizations and obtain a charter
from the American Federation of Labor.
This will be decided at future meeting.
Committees were appointed to visit the
employers and recruit the ranks of the
new organization.
After the meeting Mr.. Taylor, in an in
formal talk. outlined the good that would
come of such an organization. He said the
clerks could be of great assistance in COM
relling peddlers to obey the city ordinances
governing them. He said they would also
be a factor in securing local legislation
from the City Council by the passage of or
dinances beneficial to both the grocers and
clerks. A confidential understanding be-
tween grocery clerks and their employers,
he said, will make it essential that they
cooperate in the various movements of
reform advocated by either, and that a
Joint movement will result in a more pleas
ant relationship and better conditions for
both.