The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-26
Organized Movement inaugural
ed in New York.
To Induce People to Do Christ
mas Shopping Early.
MERCHANTS RESPOND.
To an Appeal to Help Along
the Crusade.
BY Making ''Shop Early" a Part
CT Their Advertising.

New York, Nov 26.-When the
panic came year ago, the wise
prophets of trade conditions foresaw a
heavy decline in Christmas shopping.
'It must come" they declared, for a
man out of a job can't buy presents
for his family" Probably there was
a falling off in holiday purchases, but
it was not perceptible to those who
delayed shopping until the last week.
There were the same tired, pushing,
bundle-laden crowds and the same
cross, stupid, wornout clerks.
They say that the building of the
subways in New York has not percept-
IDLY lcssened the daily jam on the sur
face and elevated trains. And it's a
reasonab bly, safe guess that such things
sis panIcs or hard times will not ma
teriaily reduce the Christmas holiday
rush. There is a way out of the rush,
however; an old way that is being
The few sensible people who have
responded to the shop early" call of
the newspapers. merchants, manufac-
turers and philanthropic workers are
pretty sure to continue to be early
shoppers if only for purely selfish rea-
sons; for they Gas well as the girls
behind the counters) are saving energy
and temper.
For two years Charities Publication
committee of New York has carried on
an annual campaign with shop
Early as its war cry. Department
stores the country over have heartily
cO-operated. Christmas advertisements
have urged customers to come early
and avoid the rush Newspapers in
every state of the Union have preach
ed this modern parable of wise vir-
gins. And although a reduction of the
late holiday shoppin~ crowd is not APP
parent, any more than is the IeSsening
of the crowds in New York since the
subway came, there is, it is hoped, less
crowding every year at Christmas
time.
This year some of the most prom
inent men in busin eSS literature and
philanthropy have Joined in plea to
department store managers. asking
them to help along this movement for
early shopping. Here is the letter:
For the third successive year,
charities publication committee asks
your cooperation in urging early
Christmas shopping as a means of
tightening the heavy burdens and long
hours which the holiday season brings
to the women and girls and boys in
the retail trade.
''WiIl you run the enclosed card in
your advertisements every day from
now until December Is or as often as
space permits?
Early Christmas shopping is to the
advantages of the merchant and the
customer as well as the clerk and the
delivery boy. Every year the matter
is given more public attention. All
that is needed to make it pro-
nounced success is the cooperation
of the merchants and the newspapers
in reminding people of it. May we
count on your help? And will you
send US clippings of your advertise
ments containing the shop early
card -
Merchants and manufacturers the
country over have responded to this
call and co-operated. This year a
man of candy fame, has inaugurated
an advertising campaign asking
Christmas purchasers to do your
Christmas shopping early in the sea-
son and early in the day, thereby con-
tributing to the Christmas of the
working girl and all who serve you"
From $50 to II in the morning
are the best hours for shopping. The
service is quickest and orders can be
packed during the day, saving much
night work
Ito take home small packages