The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-12-19

Christmas department stores do a sea
pacity business" and the pressure on
the merchant is intensified at every
point Public opinion more and more
disapproves long hours and late work,
particularly for young women, girls
and children. Yet unless vigorous
steps are taken many shoppers
through thoughtlessness defer their
purchases until the last moment at
the cost of unnecessary strain upon
salespeople and delivery forces. Faced
by this condition many stores in order
to handle the business have often re-
luctantly heightened the hours of la
Dor for their hands. Authentic records
from the lives OF clerks, delivery boys
and wagon drivers, show that as re-
suit the season of Christmas festival
and of charity for the lame, the halt
and the blind reduces to illness and
exhaustion the young and faithful
who serve u.s. seen and unseen.
But the experience of half decade
proves that public opinion can be
aroused to realization of the un-
necessary and inhuman nature of the
eleventh hour rush. BY joint effort
of editor and merchants the idea has
been brought home to millions of GUS
toners that they can benefit them
selves and every one concerned If they
will do their Christmas shopping early
in the season and early in the day.
The call for sympathy for the over
worked and exhausted salesgirls and
deliverymen has evoked real res
ponse.
Will you insert the enclosed card in
your advertisements from now until
Christmas and send us clippings? 1t
will take some space but 1t will help
distribute the Christmas shopping
over a longer period, to your advan-
tage, besides Tightening the burden on
your employees. If you have already
printed such appeals this year or in
previous years we wish to thank you
for your aid in reminding people to
do their shopping early and for your
help in making this practice more
widespread. Sincerely yours,
Theodore Roosevelt.
Jacob Riis,
Edward Box,
Editor of The Ladies' Home Journal.
A. Lincoln Fiyene,
VIM. Filene's Sons Co., Boston.
John Graham Brooks,
President National Consumers
League.
Jane Adams.
Head Worker, Hull House, Chicago.
Edward T.. Devine,
Editor of The Survey.
Mrs. Florence Kelley. secretary of
the National Consumers League,
which has a membership of women IN
every city in the country. pledged to
work for the safeguarding OF women
and children In industry, says of early
Christmas shopping:
Never before in any month Of Mo-
vember has so large a number of mer-
chants notified their customers that
the Christmas goods are at hand ready
for inspection and purchase. Never
have so many Consumers leagues
mailed to their members appeals to
shop early in the season. early in the
week and early in the day. In some
cities, postal cards carry a printed
personal appeal IN others. cards IN
the street cars and store windows bear
the legend.
1T Is an astonishing number Of
people who profit by this vast con-
certed effort to abolish the Christmas
cruelties. The shoppers themselves
find now in the stores air and good
will awaiting them which (sinister
thoughtl) will grow less every day as
Christmas approaches. The clerks are
still unwearied by the jostiing crowds,
and can extend courtesy which will
grow day by day more difficult IL not
more scant. These. however, are
merely the visible part Of the army of
workers concerned. Unseen and alasi
aforementioned are the shipping and
packing and wrapping forces, the de-
liveryman, the boys and, remotest of
all from the gay holiday throngs OF
mid December are the candy makers.
toy makers. box makers. the innumer-
able workshop and factory employees
whose overtime work follows the
belated orders and careless delays Of
the shopping multitude
1t III therefore, very cheering to