The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-11-22
WHO SAID
WAGE IS NOT
SATISFYING?
Visit to Department Stores
Brings Out Interesting
Facts Relative to Clerk S
and the Wages That are
Paid Them.

what are the facts that attach q
the picketing of the Hammond de-
partment stores and the harsssing or
the proprietors with an attempt Is
force union labor not to shop in the
stores under threats Of the visitation
or a penalty?
Is the publis interested in the facts?
The true statement of these facts
would be a revelation TO great many
union men who until this series O.
articles came TO light have had no
accurate knowledge Of them
Not only is the general public inter
ested in the unfortunate situation but
inquiry shows that the union man has
interested himself insofar as to want
TO know the other side Of the contro-
versy and tho real status Of the boy
colt situation.
READY ron THE TRUTH.
The union man knows that lie has
been forbidden TO trade in the depart
naent stores as we'll as all the mem
bers Of his family His freedom IS
taken away from him. lie knows that
these stores under the ban have al
vrgs been favorable to organized la
Dor. lie knows that outside agitators
are IN Hammond fomenting the differ
ences and are literally paid to do so
ard lie is curious to know the ms and
outs OF the controversy because the
union worker Is fair minded and too
indepe ndent TO be lead around with
ring in his nose. He knows that he is
peremptorily called upon to contribute
a sum out of his weekly stipend for
the maintenance Of idle young men
and girls on the streets of the city and
he wants to kposF Why.
The agitatoTs tel him the boycott
is due TO the starvation wages paid
the girls in the stores.
What about It?
A VISIT TO THE sTOREsf
J. Times representative visited the
department stores affected and receiv-
cd the impression that the true facts
wore quite in contrast TO the talk and
propaganda circulated by tho strike
agitators. lie learned that il never
was a question Of wages and that the
clerks never have been dissatisfied
with what they were getting NIer-
chants stated that the minimum wage
paid was S1o and only 10 beginners At
that He was surprised 10 find out
many OF the salesiadies were paid from
SIS 70 $50 per week for their services.
Inquiry among the clerks themselves
brought out the fact that the starve-
tion wage story was untrue and only
existed in the minds Of tho strike agi-
tators The clerks-men and sirls
alike-were found to be happy and
contented and moreover 20 per cent Of
them were back az work.
WAGES ARE SATISFACTORY
One OF the girl clerks said: Il know
it to be fact that the stores have 30
grievances against the union The
wages arc not question here because
they are very satisfactory. What
c.erk gets depends on herself. She
gets SIC week when she begins and
when she learns her duties she gets
much more
An interesting interview was obtain
ed from a young woman who started
In at tho bottom OF tho ladder and
worked her way up TO a sales man
ager. She told OF visit she made 10
East Chicago the other day where she
met a girl whom she worked with ten
year ago. Both were paid $40 a week
sShe IS still getting SIS week" said
the saleswoman. and today am get
ting three times that much and by ar
plication to my work I viii get more
TRAINING Is INVALUABLE.
One OF the clerks pointed out a n,
teen year old boy IN one OF the stores
who was getting SIG week and asked
If that was a starvation wage for
boy.
It developed that many parents are
proud TO have their boys and girls
get positions in the department stores
because Of the valuable business train
ing they are acquiring NO matter.
said ono father. what my bog does ia
future life. tho business experience
Re is getting now Will be a great as
set to him and something money can
rot buy"
\ trip through these stores would
give any union man the knowledge the
employees arc content with the wages
and training they arc getting