Lanterna Rally

Author: Retail Clerks International Union

Publisher: Washington, D.C. : The Association

Published: 2012-03-06

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 9781130140316

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908 Excerpt: ...lead them on to victory. "Fellow delegates, you are not alone here as the accredited representatives of your local organization, but as representatives of all of the salespeople of America. It is your solemn duty, and it should be a most pleasant one, to give credence to the appeal of all salespeople, whether members or not. This Convention can not and must not adjourn until plans have been outlined to secure for every employe in the retail stores of America a fair day's wage for a fair day's work. "Wendell Phillips' opinion on this phase of life is well worth quoting, and the first part, though spoken to men, applies with equal truth to women. "'Lift a man, give him life, let him work eight hours a day, give him beautiful things to see and good books to read, and you will starve out the lower appetites. Give a man a chance to earn a good living and you may save his life.' So it is with women. Give men in this country good wages and eight hours' work and they will disdain to steal. Give unto all women a chance to earn a good living and they will disdain to barter their virtue for gold." At the last session of that Convention the following resolutions were unanimously adopted: "Whereas, It is a well-known fact that during the past decade the cost of living has increased at an unprecedented and alarming rate through the unholy and unlawful combinations of capital; and, "Whereas, It is also an undeniable fact that the wages of the retail clerks have remained stationary; and, "Whereas, The retail clerk is now in a position where it is impossible to earn a living wage, especially in the department store; and, "Whereas, We believe that the retail clerk has an inherent right to demand just and fair remuneration for services ...