The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-03
IN CLERKS BEHALF
W0MEN'S CLUBS HEAR LEG
.TURE ON EARLY SHOPPING.
Mrs. Frederick Nathan, President of
New York Consumers League, Says
Employers Will 0blige Customers.

The trials of the employees of the
large department stores during the
Christmas shopping rush, and ways in
which conditions could be bettered,
were ably set forth by Mrs. Frederick
Nathan, of New York, president OF the
New York Consumers League. before
local clubwomen and their friends in
the Free Public Library last night.
81 wonder how many who p%rocras-
innate, leaving their shopping to the
very last minute, realize nov much
pain, hardship and suffering they are
causing ?" said Mrs. Nathan; they try
to crowd all of their purchases into a
few days or hours. The frenzy Of the
shopper is easily communicated to the
clerks behind the counter, who are ex-
hausted when their work is done. Then,
think of those who are not seen, the
little bundlers, errand girls. and the
little boys who drive about on the de-
livery wagons all hours of the night,
running up Stops, getting momentaIy
glimpses what to them is fairyland,
and having the doors closed In their
faces as they go on their route"
Mrs. Nathan said that the present con-
ditions were a great deal better h in
former years. owing to incessant agitation
on the part of the Consumers League, but
that there was still great room for inn
provement. She said that people could buy
now, if they wanted to, and that the
stores would place labels marked do not
open until Christmas on the packages,
which could be delivered Immediately,
thus lessening the strain on the drivers.
The speaker declared that, while all did
not believe in the significance of Christ
mas. it had come to be known as a time
Of good cheer and joy for all. She added
that December % was a pagan holida
long before the birth of Christianity, and
she charged those present to remember,
when they We're buying gifts for their own
children, the thousands who had to toll
IN order to make those gifts. She asked
them also to buy only goods which were
made by adults, as far as they knew, and
to confne their purchases to the stores
where there was a high standard Of treat
ment of the employees.
Mrs. Nathan said that the New York
Consumers League made investigations<a
few years ago and found that by multi
plying the number of clerks in all OF the
big stores by the numbers Of extra hours
they worked that they gave to their en-
ployers as a Christmas gift a total of 1911
years OF unpaid labor. She said that many
of the people who wandered through the
stores at night did SO to amuse themselves
and did not shop at ALL
first the stores kept open for three
weeks, then we got the time dow to two
weeks. then to ten days, until now they
are open for one week before Christmas,
and a very few stores are not open any
extra nights. This has meant hard work
on the part of a few women who were
willing TO determine the percentage of shop
pers versus the percentage of idle saun-
%terers; who interviewed merchants and
sent out cards to find out how many people
were willing to shop in the daytime.
What the consumer wants will be
done" she went on; 1.-THE merchants are
willing 10 accede to everything they want,
this being due to the stress of COMPETE
tion, and IL the consumers unite and pool
their influence, a great deal can be ac-
complfshed. We need unity of purpose. :"
Mrs. Nathan told of conditions regard
ing home work which existed in this city,
saying that one woman makes fancy col
lars for 10, u and Is cents per dozen. BY
working until l or > a. m. she can make
four dozen. These collars sell in the local
stores for about 50 cents each. Another
woman crochets infants sacques for fifty
cents per dozen; still another a
dresses for l2-year-old girls. getting 20
cents a dozen. By working until midnight
each day she succeeds in making eight or
nine dozen in a week. The speaker also
told of how little children nave to work
in many homes, as long as their strength
holds out.
The speaker quoted from the animal re-
port of the New Jersey Consumers League,
which stated that about $50 children were
employed In the department stores OF New
ark, Jersey City. Plainheld, Paterson and
Hobuken.
Mrs. G. w. y. Gushing. OF East Orange
president of the New Jersey Consumers
League, stated that there was not n city
IN New Jersey which complied with The
conditions which would put Il on ii.