The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-06-14
THE SATURDAY HALF-HoL1DAY.

THE SATURDAY HALF-HOLIDAY
In advocating the cause Of those who are
generally termed 1.-The working men,
those who are employed in mechanical and
other work requiring large amount Of
manual labor, combined with more or less
skill and intelligence, We must not lose
sight Of a large body Of fellow workers,
embracing those whose occupation involves
large amount Of headwork, much Of
which Is monotonous and very trying to
the health and nervous system, and much
requiring large amount of standing
for many hours each day: aud also the
necessity of putting up cheerfully with a
great deal that is very trying to the temper
and patience Of those employed We
allude to clerks in offices and stores, many
Of the employees IN which are delicate NO
men, including young women on whose
constitutions the work is very trying and
exhaustive To these halt holiday on
one day IN the week would be a great boon
and relief
Unfortunately, these classes from the
nature Of their employment, and the sup
ply of such labor in the market have not the
power Of protecting themselves by comb
nation, and Of limiting their hours Of labor,
50 that they have to appeal for relief to
the sense Of justice Of their employers, and
to the sympathy OF these aud Of the gen
eral public, who are To a great extent the
cause Of their long hours of labor, and to
secure these they must depend very much
on the support and advocacy Of the press
to make their position and wants known.
and We trust the influential organs Of this
lthe press vii take the matter in hand
and lend their powerful influence in Their
behalf
With regard to clerks male and female,
employed iii offices. these as a rule. work
from ten u twelve hours a day often III a
bad atmosphere, III many cases in very
bad light, and their work necessitates close
application Ia constrained position, with
constant strain upon their minds and a
detrimental effect up'n their sight and
nervous system while those employed in
stores, although relieved from these
disadvantages, work Of en much
longer and have to Ice constant
~ on their feet, and are expected 70 he al
ways active, and on the gee rice t. attend
70 their customers with alacrlty and cheer
Tulness, and are exposed to many trials on
their patience, by the caprice and exactions
Of those whom they have to serve Now,
IN the case Of clerks employed in offices
their employers are not depending on
chance custom, and a half holiday would
not affect the amount of work to be done
indeed we think that their hours generally
might be abridged a good deal without any
loss to their employers and as 70 those
. employed IN stores, as the amount Of susl-
ness to be done IS limited it might Just as
easily be done III shorter time If employ
ers would only make up their minds to
/ nee lliSLI STORES pen lot limited time,
and certainly there could be no difficulty
IN limiting these on one day in the week.
Saturday has been generally agreed upon
as the most appropriate day, for many rea-
sons, for granting halt-hohday, and where
/ it has been tried the result has been most
encouraging and beneficial to the employed.
without prejudice to the employers III
the large cities III England the plan has
had a fair trial, and has has been very
generally adopted, and the movement il
still gaming ground . as q have become
almost the rule.
We appeal with confidence to the con
sideration and good sense Of employers in
behalf Of their over worked employees, and
to the sympathy and good feelings Of the
| general public TO assist them IN carry Ing
out so desirable an object by doing then
| shopping early. We also trust To the CO
operation Of the influential members Of the
| Press to advocate and ventilate the ques.
ton, and aid the movement by their pow
| erful influence