The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-23
Topeka Merchants Seek Way
Out of banner Servitude.
Meeting Tonight To Suggest
Practical Methods.
MEETING Ar NOON WAS TAME
TOpekans Disposed To Co.
Operate Best Way Possible.
Each Business Will Be Repre-
sented This Evening.

Emerson Carey of Hutchinson. state
-lel administrator. is coming to To-
peka in an effort to iron some OF the
wrinkles from the Danner closing
order. Carey will attend a meeting
of Topeka business men at the Chafh-
Der of Commerce at 1:3o totlsnt
when free, unlimited and unrestralned
speech as provided under the constr
tuition will be permitted. At this meet
inc Administrator Carey will probably
hear few tender sentiments con-
cerning the supreme intelligence evil
denced in preparation of provisions OIL
the order regulating business hours.
While the Topeka business men are
going to the meeting Chas. ii. banner
who wrote the local closing order has
selected and carefully laid aside nice
little alibi. The alibi will be offered
to Boss Carey at the most opportune
hour of the session. banners defense
is to the effect that it might nave
been different if the merchants hau
s. id something about it. He VIII eX-
plain to Carey that Topeka merchants
failed to call on him regarding the
closing order. So Danner wrote an
week of his life.
Ask Carey for Relief.
Business men will ask Carey to step
into the local closing muddle and
provide an intelligent method of fuel
regulation. 1t is quite probable the
business interests of the city VIII ask
protection thru recognition of an ad-
visory board Carey will be told that
continuance of the existing order Will
result in business depressions, heavy
losses and genuine opposition.
1t is not the spirit of the closing
order which will be attacked at to-
nights meeting. many business men
exclaimed today. The opposition TO
the order will concern the lack of
knowledge of business and economic
conditions which resulted in some or
the provisions of the closing rule.
Carey will be told that the order in its
present form practically means a shut
down for a number of business houses
Nor is that all. A number of firms
affected by the closing order Will tell
the state administrator that the fuel
conservation cannot enter into the
closing of their shops. They Will
state that the same amount of fuel is
used when the store is closed as when
it is open to the public.
Representative of the Edison COM
panv and the street railway will tell
Carey just what the Danner order has
done to these industries. Manager
Purdy recently issued a statement to
the effect that banners order result
ed in an enormous business depres-
sion, disturbed conditions to their
foundation and failed to save fuel and
added only to the disturbance of in
dustrial conditions. Since the order
became efteC tive, Kansas avenue is
practic ally as deserted as a country
lane after the last picture show closes
at Q o'clock. Now the street railway
ii
to the minimum. Manager Patten ex-
planned the company did not wish to
disturb the slum bers of the sleeping
village.
Meeting This Noon.
Little and big, great and small,
about 60 of the merchants of Topeka
gathered at the Chamber of Com
merce at 1915 o'clock this morning
to crystalline the plans for a new set
of closing hours to be presented to
the state and county fuel dictators at
the joint conference of the dictators
and the merchants at the Chamber
of Commerce at 1880 o'clock this even
ing.
President McEntire called the meet
ing to order, and, after again dis
claiming sponsorship of the Chamber
of Commerce, he proceeded to tell
what the committee that waited on
Director Danner Tuesday noon accom-
plished. 1t seems that Danner ex-
ing or conference tonight was a wise
move" Previous to the issuance OF
the closing order. Danner, thru the
newspapers and by letter to certain
prominent merchants, asked that the
retailers of the city meet him in a
conference for the purpose of striking
an equitable basis for issuing the
order.
Danner MuchIy Abused.
McEntire in the opening speech also
indicated that while the committee
was in attendance on Danner Tuesday
noon, one woman of the city called
Danner on the telephone to express
the sentiment You ought to be hung -
According to the statements of Nc
Entire, Danner complains that his
telephone and mail have been ready
avenues. fully utilized by the citizens
of Topeka, for heaping abuse on the
fuel dictators head.
Merchants said Little
-cEntire called on the merchants
present to take the floor. Not one OF
the merchants present at the meeting
showed any special inclination to start
the pail rolling, and finally McEntire
was forced to call on William Green
of the Green Grocery companly fol
his views on the closing order as il
affected the grocers of the city Greer
did not seem to be enthusiastic to all
his ideas in public meeting, but he die
say Mr.. Danner is entitled to the
greatest consideration in this matter
and 1, for one, am fully convinced thai
he is trying his level best to be fail
to everyone" This struck the key
note of the whole of the open meet
ing which was pacific in the expires