The Washington times., 1917-12-07
MERCHANTS URGE
PRESIDENT TO HALT
EMPLOYE PLUCKING

tary or the Retail Merchants Asso-
citation, urged President Wilson to
confer with his cabinet officers this
afternoon upon measures of relief
against the summary taking over by
Government departments Of employees
OF local houses, pointing out the
serious situation now existing in
Washington business establishments.
The association ask that before the
Government gives employment to
clerks in Washington stores some
plan be devised by which the en-
ployes may give at least q weeks
notice of their intention to quit.
Hundreds OF store employees have
recently left their positions without
any notice, some OF them quitting In
the middle OF the day. The personnel
OF stores and other establishments
Is shot to pieces over night -
Executive Orders.
President Wilson recently issued an
executive order prohibiting the trans-
fer OF clerks from one Government
department to another without the
approval OF the respective heads Of
departments, one Government bureau
unhesltatingly depriving another Of
the services OF its employees by the
Offering OF larger sRlaries.
Several business men Of Washing
ton were recently given severe shocks
when they ascertained that President
McIlhenny, of the Civil Service Com
mission. or some one using his name,
had telegraphed employees suggesting
that they determine at once whether
they wished to accept Government
employment. One telegram that
came to the notice of The Times, and
signed by Mr.. McIlhenny, was ad-
dressed to a stenographsr in a large
business establishment here, and sug-
gested that she advise the War Trade
Board Immediately whether she
wished an appointment at $1,000 a
year.
Mr.. Columbus. in presenting his
plea to the President today, was in
Ignorance OF this device of Mr.. Nc
Ilhehny.
Mr.. Columbus was told by Secre-
tary Tumulty that his communication
would be laid before the President
this afternoon. Mr.. Columbus said
that some aid would reach the mer-
chants through the Willingness of
school authorities that pupils Of
schools who are well up with their |
studies shall go into the stores dur |
ing the Christmas period, but that
this would not begin to ill the de- |
mands.
Letter to President.
Mr.. Columbus letter to the Presi- |
dent follows:
The retail merchants Of Washing
ton are facing very serious Difficult
ties at the present time in the matter
of help. Our Government comes first
for everything, man and woman
power as well as money, but as | un-
derstand the Cabinet will meet to-
morrow. I would ask on behalf OF the
merchants of Washington that steps
be taken in the various Government
departments to the end that the TAX
ing over OF employees for Government
service may not be done in the sum-
mary manner as now exists.
"I have been advised by a number OF
our leading merchants that their en-
ployes have been drafted for service on
the proverbial moments notice, that they II
have even left in the middle OF the day II
with none but an instantaneous notice
OF withdrawal / know full well that
you and your able advisers are desirIous
that tne country generally SIlall OTlNe
on. producing more in every useful
line than ever before. and on behalf OF
the merchants Of Washington, l would
most respectfully ask that, from now
until Christmas at least. arrangements
be perfected whereby employees that are
taken shall have an onnortunity to give
their present employers at least a weeks
notice.
DifheuIt to Get Employees.
"The business interests OF Wash
inEton have for some time back had
the greatest difficulty imaginable in
securing any kind OF help. There are
places for thousands in the local
stores that cam not be filled. Store
managers have gone TO the greatest
lengths imaginable to meet this very |
pressing need. And unless some steps i
can be taken by which individuals
d. afted in Governmental Eehvice can
give their present employers some
sort OF notice the difficulties OF busi-
ness Will so multiply as to produce
1tagnation at this, the busiest period
Of the entire year
Il hesitate At this time TO trouble |
you with a matter OF this character, II
but the need j. 80 great and the ne II
cesslty Of keeping necessary business
under a full complement of steam 70 Il
apparent that the Retail Merchants
Association most respectfully asks
that the heads Of Government depart
ments be asked to bear with the busI-
infHFNafa Of he franVf.l