SHOP MORALS.

Evening Star, Issue 14003, 9 March 1909, Page 3

SHOP MORALS.

MR CAMPBELL'S DEFIANT REPLY TO DRAPERS. A few weeks ago the Rev. R. J. Campbell, addressing a meeting of shop assistants, declared that there were many young women in drapers' shops in the West x,nd of London who were driven to lead immoral lives in order to eke out their scanty earnings. This statement created indignation in the drapery trade. The Drapers' Chamber of Trade wrote to Mr Campbell'complaining of his "gross misstatement," andsaying that, if he made statements that he could not substantiate. Ids conduct was both unmanly and unchristian. But the Chamber admitted that speakers sometimes allowed sentiment to est the upper hand of judgment, which led them to say things which they might afterwards desire to retract. Therefore the Chamber asked Mr Campbell for "a complete withdrawal of the statement complained of." This is Mr Campbell's reply, which was read av a meeting of the Chamber: Hill Lodge, Enfielo. Dear sir,—Neither you nor your Coum cil appear to be very good judges aj td what is " unmanly and unchristian." seeing that you do not take the pains to inform yourselves as to the actual abuses incidental to a system of which apparently you do not disapprove. I adhere in toto to the statement to which you object, and have not the slightest intention of withdrawing it. You are quite well aware of the reason why I do not name any particular offender. Nothing is more" difficult than to procure legal evidence of facts of the kind referred to, although their existence is notorious. But I give you notice that if ever I can secure evidence enough on which to institute a prosecution 1 shall t;.k,i the matter into 'court myself without waiting for the opinion of your Council I am, etc., R. J. Campbell. J. R. Quilter, Esq. —False and Malicious.— Mr Edwin Jones moved the following resolution dealing with Mr Campbell's letter : That this Chamber, bv reason of the refusal of the Rev. R. J.'Campbell either to substantiate or withdraw the statement made by him to the effect that in some West End shops young women are paid such a miserable wage that thev are expected, and, indeed, encouraged, to eke it out by the sale of their bodies, hereby repudiates such a groundless assertion, which it believes to be founded on false and malicious information, reflecting, as it does, on as respectable and virtuous a class of young women as is to lie found in our West End shops. Mr Edwin Jones said he was surpri&ed that Mr Campbell should chow such a spirit. He had been asked either to substantiate or withdraw his statements, and he had definitely declined to do either, but instead had shown his teeth and snarled. Mr Pritchard Jones characterised MiCampbell's statements as being wf.hout a tittle of foundation. "Mr Campbell," Mr Jones went on. "is not following in his Master's footsteps, and he seems co have little regard for the ninth Commandment. I have to declare conscientiously-and 1 have had . thirty-five years' experience—that there is not a word of truth in his statement." This emphatic declaration was greeted with loud cheering. Further discussion followed, and the resolution was adopted unanimously. On the motion of Mr Morfit—who characterised Mr Campbell's statements as "scandalous and lying"—seconded by Mr Bra-suet, it was decided to take counsel's opinion on Mr Campbell's letter, and to consider the matter again at the next meeting.