The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-27
STORES COME IN.
Three Establishments Join I'm
ions in Closing Fight.
Clothing Houses to Close Not
Later Than $3.50 p. M.
LABOR,STILL WORKING
Would Better Condition OF the
Clerks i'm Local Stores.
GiIberg Explains Position and
States Some Facts.
LABOR.STILL WORKING

The campaign being waged by or
Eanized labor in this city to have the
merchants who are not already doing
SO to close their stores at or $3.50 IN
!. the evenings, except Santa Fe pay
nights and Saturdays, is beginning to
bear fruit.
Three well known establishments
SamuePs, Augusts and the Globe
Clothing company have lined up with
the unions and will close not later
than $3.50 on all save excepted nights.
These places do a largo business
with the union men and are backing
labor in its fight. Their action is ex-
pected to break the back OF opposltlon
merchants, who are still holding to the
old fourteen and fifteen hour a day
rule.
These places will draw large amount
of trade from those stores who are
fighting the new order. for labor will
continue to boycott all stores which do
not adopt the shorter hour day.
Labor Takes Firm Stand.
Organized labor is firm in its posi-
ton that the clerks of Topeka (male
and femaleO shall have some time TO
themselves It is going to bend its
best efforts toward making the shorter
hours the order of the day 1t is going
to DO all in its power to see that the
clerks have sometime to themselves
and their families and sometime to
a. position against Sunday theatres, on
account of opposition to labor on that
day, and have lined up along side
the ministers of the city to fight the
new move. Labor leaders declare the
unions will never stop fighting until
clerks IN Topeka enjoy better hours
and better working conditions. 1t Will
fight sweat shops, long hours. poor pay
and will attempt to better in general
the condition of the working people
of Topeka.
In Ike Gilberg, well known Social
list leader, the clerks have found q
warm friend Gilberg is prime
mover in the Socialist club. members
of which are cooperating with the
Industrial council in the present fight.
Discussing the situation, Gilberg said
this morning: I'VE are working to
improve the condition of the clerks
of this city. We are trying to secure
for them the right to live as men
and women, not as animals. People
do not realize what 1t means to clerks,
both men and women, to have to
stand behind counters from $50 a. m.
until 9 p. m. on week nights and
until II o'clock on Saturday. 1t is a
terrible thing And again, these peo-s
pie receive in many cases miserable
salaries. Mind you, am not speak
ing of the higher class places when
I say this.
Injuries Citizenship.
such fourteen hours a day slav-
cry as some poor clerks have to en-
dure means poor health, no pleasure,
no home enjoyment, lack of interest
in civic affairs, no interest In life, no
time for self Improvement and an
endless grind. 1t is but drudgery and
slavery. The clerks have to do 1t or
lose their positions.
us the citizenhip of Topeka going
to support such a peonage? I say
no. Does such a situation add to the
city's reputation abroad? Does It at
tract others here? Does 1t add to
the value of property? Does it i'm
prove our brand of citizenhip? No.
New Zealand closes her stores by