New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-16
HALF.HOLIDAY MOVEMENT.
VIEWS OF AN EMPLOYER.

cxxy,yo rHAr ITS PROMOTERS ARE so vhhi
sERrousLY ovERwoRKKD. AFTER ALL.
Q. tAs EDITOR Of rae Trto"ne.
SIR: Perhaps the present may be . good tune
g a, .mployer 10 say Q word on this SUBJECT anu
vth,s IA another organization Of labor 10 sp''uso
The rights Of employers by compelling them 10 ao
shorssnds OF them cannot do without the en'ainen' "
serious loss In trade. very close ooser'a'ion VI w
80 .wert reveals tho names Of only few retail houses
-. ,.v,r,ng A plau for the closing OF all stores a'
o'clock on Saturday all the year rouno' ihere - Nv
A.a tina, the very large number OF smaller dealers
r,,h hom satur lay afternoon Is the pes' VI ''o ~
N.vs ever been consulted on the sup)ect CERTAIN P
49,. ge,tlemen some OF them merchants ana o"nAo''
"a however thrown themselves INTO the movement
,bfe large number Of the clergy have lreacne' anu
talked In favor OF IT, ,. .~o,. .,
All. ,novamentf An orgauza,IOn OF clerks many VI
,Ac,r labor frcm o'clock IN ths IL ofning untii 0
., tho evening. Concerning those VINO no" "oi~
the .venipe nothing is 10 he said These clerks "i
.,r general consultation with the employing oeSe,
no.. originated this movement to work i've days Snu
halt for six days pay. and have SCI themselves ~ Wv
au,v ~ aecomrlsh this by working throus" a"
o,za ion to influence public opinion 10 various quo'
tionable ways ...,oast q little
.,,rtlet when on a Sunday morning nol'o ""'
t. mint Of the church which he attends anno"nc-
In, hat
sarraav all the year roundwa' to he put IN ioroe VI
g., sar,dsv IN January. sucD notices were sent "
m ,ho .sr.che,-how many OF them were READ 90 no'
knov-sud the ladies OF the congregation were Ieuu
,o, 70 40 any shopping after tnat holr Oh o"'u'u'
,ured order to close not complied wi'n oono'o'
cave nv single large establishment, when uu coSo' y"
,h dav named bat only for the once Not long since d
- en- coma e,uest TO the ladies' WAS made IN
-o,nhornr church and cards were distributed ASKING
e., "a en,er into a VT tten agreement 10 tue saiHo
soa.t Receutlv puDlic meeting was heia ID Niio"Vs
Hall. presided over by the Mayor OF 'he CIV |
schere was warmly ndcrsed by several senOench III no
80 connected with retail business OF the city, anu
his Honor the Mayor reported as saying mat "c no
d NOT tise the word that all those dealers mo s'oou
soo, from the movement shcnld be "boycotted. IN
And nis iust what il means should Tue mo 20
even partially succ-ssful That IL can oe uoy ~, the
csssfu il an ipOssiOlity The smaller stores on me
avenues aud the sac s'iees % the best Of ali
~ idays m the year, Will not because tIey cahhCl,
close I.e FL fSe mater. and If they were would
refuse 20 enter agreement 10 sh0 only at certain
nyurs ~ il vastly lighter than their may lie
relieved at their Own option anu uhucr P,essuro VI
.nhauthropc sentiment from their proper Obligations
l" 'neiI i,ViSrer OF many years standing. and am
rraeYu that | able 20 say That no clerk OF nine mas
ever had cause for complaint Oh want or sympathy on
ny art Not one OF my rmPlOyes nas oaol 'eI. lo
rnes imposed my establishments no wages deducted
for absence on account OF sickness. Until the past
s'n,r nave not closed at an early hour Saturday;
Sf hte ha rule permitting clerks arrange among
tse,.elyes that they might have the wnoe day every
snn1 or third saturday in July and August; while no
CLERK desiring occasional day on mas ever Deen
Sed fine vlese For me to close every Saturday at
I "a m would be not only inconvenience TO many OF
my customers but wOud invOve cohSlderao4e .oss VA
trsie Possibly If all NewYorK and all the adjacent
ana citis rolled down tie store shutters at T. m
on saturday there might be no loss. yet noupt IT,
what would be the effect with Boston, fhils emma
Chicago aud all other cities standing OUT, whIe ue
OF all those places Is lnerwoVen VIA tn@ OF
NewN0r There Is MOI possine more tnat tne InoNe
nent can general one. Then there are Seasons
OF the year SIX days In the week au SIX nights III
the week are re9uii ell 10 40 tha hecuel "a
retail Establishments TaSe the retail trade OF TINS city
from middle of November until the rst OF January
Does sane maa think possible 10 close tne SHOPS
TINS period even ur der the coercIve power OF the
preseyt acton hundred or two should determine
10 close ana the owners of few Others IN the exercise
pea.e $50 long as there mfr ngenent OF the rights
Of should decline to do Is 10 he understood
that c,erSs are ready to apply the boycott under
the pressure VI previously Manufactured pubic
opinion =
having matters pretty much all their OWN way; Time
all employers, who necessarily carry tie burdens
OF tie business. lett out all preliminary discus
SONS raise question about the eght-hour move
ment beyond statement that shorter hours will mean
very soon less wages. II the essenng cost OF living
CONTINUES TINS NAV make up the deficiency 10 the wage
woke. eu A. TAI as clerks al concerned they NAV
ell Drgn the consideration OF the truth that 10 these
DAYS competition with tue Increased cost In the
transaction OF business and the narrowing Of all margins
OF profits IN this movement means sooner or
is'orers ami tla market IA already overcro wded.
In certain religious circles point IN favor OF the
movement Is that success would tend to better
Observance OF the sabbath the clerks would then
be weary 10 attend church. or would be restrained
from the sunday excursion! This argument proceeds
upon tue assumption mat all the clerks ale OF a
religious turn OF MUD. aid that the religious element Is
being by the fact that they have to work
uutl. q O'Clock every day in tho week.
No. The CLERKS ~ Nex-NOrk working from o'clock
in the morning until IN the evening. with an hour or
hall DI lunch. compose All ONerwOrRed class
No successful employer but has always worked more
hours Al the time there Is in this city and al
over The land, mighty multitude OF men and women who
are indeed OverwOrked. and whose present condition
bttiugiy command the attention OF the ph1lan
trOpisi anu Christian OF cry name.
AN AMERICAN EMPLOYER.
York. July 6, 1856.