New-York tribune., 1886-06-06

some o. vnc ernayes az work closing up delayed bus
nos. but tho majority OH ocals "u % yo" IN
watching the racing at Jerome fars or 'ne ne'i0 'o
tests i'm various places In and around the CITY,
HOW THE END HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
A SKETCH OF THE MovEMENr-rHE WORK OF HE
COMMITTEE.
Now that the Saturday half-holiday reform
has been generally adopted in this city, ana as theI
every reason to believe that will be started IN Quiet
large cities OF the country IS only question OF unie
bref history of this movement may not be unintereshe
The idea OF making last afternoon OF the week
Althonday throughout tho year for everyoody-shoP
and factory hands we'll employees in IN stores ana
ooces-w;hou causing any loss to employers haa LOT
long time been discussed by certain persons VINO DE-
ueved that with proper management such cDahHo
might be made. For several years many hrinS haa
heen giving their hands every Saturday AFTERNOON
dpr,ne uy ard August without etrment TO their Dus
pess or Inconvenience TO the pubic Ihelr yearly No
ume of trade not reduced, but on the contrary
rather increased This led to the belief that the same
custom might he continued by the stores at least mere
hont the ycar as had been done for nearly quar-
fer of 4 century In England The matter resolved ltsel
into the question conderslns the weeks business no
five AID a half days Time.
last sprlns II was decided TO make an eiort towai"
carving out this idea ana Apr 49, 1883 anlhiorma
c,,n Of saesmen managers ana heads OF departments
conpec,e, VIII, various large drygoods establishments
was held at the Ashl>ai House TO decide upon wna'
active steps should taken Fourteen houses were rep
resented but this has since been augmented py
delegates from all the prominent retail stores OF Inc
ci,v 1t was unanimously agreed that inc pro-
,oct WAS feasible and should be carried out.
Accordingly an Executive Committee Edward 'ohh'
Atom chairman aud William NJ. Hagery secretary was
anpoutel and member o! 1t was made respohsloe
for the house hs in regard to arousng an
active interest on subject among his fellow employees
ana the collection OF necessary funds Certain pThci-
ples were then laid dovn winch 1t was agreed shonii
govern all action Of the committee in Forwarding the
movement These rGcs. which have been s'rlcNy ao-
hered To, as follows;
1-Tbat no threats, 5oycottng. intimidation or coc:-
eon Of any kind should ever be empoyed.
o-Tnat all appca should be addressed to the higher
and nober instincts human nature TO the reason,
Judgment and synpathes OF the employer
3.-That the matter shoad be presented 10 employers
as pruciplo OF business economy.
4-That 10 subscriptions should he solicited or ac'
eep,ed from any persons except those employees WHO
are expected be benefited by the halfholiday
5-Ihat meeting tosether in 's merely to tax ano
rutlrv rules would he practical benefit ana "ouio
recely. no sanction from the committee. ,
G-Ilat work patient, persistent work. WIN
strone in the cause amt r r1soVe never 10 Nv
up until the accomplished, would alone bilng
subcommittee was also selected to visit the propre'
tors of the their views on the subject Inc
6rst firm visited Arnold Constable Co., who re-
ceived the committee cordially and expressed strong
opuons in favor Of the project The announcement OF
this house did aid the movement on III It's early
stages The committee called upon about eighty nrihs
and the majority promised 10 adopt the haihollday pro-
viled II should become general Here great difficulty
arose. OF these eighty houses only ten wouu
consent TO close during June, July, August and Sep-
tember and none of them would asrce to close for
longer period The great majority OF them maintained
~ M eranrtug OF ne haif ollay rested with the
pubic AID ms being 1t would be against their
own interests to close as requested 80, q, . ,,,,., .,
Another meeting was hell A. TINS II was declied 10
appeal directly the pnbhe tor IT'S practical apr0Vhi
thorough aud comprehensive ntnhrr "as sash u % soio
magnitude. Circulars exp aiming inc AIMS ana pans
tie committee drawn up ana ior"arced 10 tne
clereymen Of all tie prom ncn chnrches III ths ana
other cities In response TO tn.se faHT al a nou %
promising constant support III bringing IL anoul.
Fifteen bishops pledged Themselves to use al their IN
nurnce in their several doceses in urtherng it, The
assistance o, the press was next sought aid
cordially given advocated ny Them with
such vgor that by July lneariy every lTomcn whole
retail house IN the ely except tnoe on tGhn,
At ~ or O'Clock Saturdays. IL was carefully est'
mated iha over 10000 people Ireevea '' @ s' a.er
noon OF the week Tor !e>t ana recreation Inc taiy
closing thus Begun Kept up until aOodt the Ii'de
Tie committee had hoped that some of the stores
would remain closed thTonghout the year nu' ia @ .uiS
however ard early in the winter decided to Degin
fer The e ae
II o'clock hroughon the year A1onTI ercsT hs ves seI
round by those kept in the close atmosphere
OF stores factories sent ont 10 ctrgs men ana
others by thousand ana had excellent effect The
papers took up the question aud III snort tne pu"nc
interest again aroused to gteater eHtent tnan
Manual laborers we're LED TO take more nteies, IN
the movement on Learnt nat me natoruay a,
halfholoay was already an estaDisaed instituion IN
some macrine shops, as for example uc continental
Iron Works of GreonpoDt Previous to this time many
70 bpencat store and ofice cmpoyas Among those
took active interest in the pToec at this time was was
aided the committee greatly In their work Mr. Ocotts
wife also rendered important assistance III en, en-,
lxdes the city In the work Pledges bot 10 shop on
Saturday afternoons were distinaoea aa y, H & s 80
hat
meeting This called IN Chickerng Han on March
"a and The building proved Insufficient to hold all that
sssembled MAYOR Grace presided. and after adopting
resolutions requesting the merchants 10 close on sa.u
day afternoons advisory comiuiteo OF one
prominent citizens was appointed vi this pouy ''i'
Ocott was chosen secretary. ,, -, S,..h.r
Hueted for the purpose Of egaizng the af-hoday 50
sheS sbonla close at noon on saturdays The bill was
opposed BY many bank presidents ana was aeieateu AZ
%,,,ee i, wa. Considered by many Of premature.
believed that such law VIII De passed as SOON =, ,h
reform general OF the large stores on the Ess.
siSh, Young girls standing on their feet for fifteen
hours on Saturdays and compelled TO 20 10 ther Doines
alone nsnt i,ea % to nsyss .sy ~ these Gstc
FINALLY James COoesn, OF Coo-an Bfoihers nndeftooa
Seeting Of the Bowery and Grand-s merchants in his
store early IN the spring aud later mass meeting was
held IN Cooper Institute which was voted 10 close
the Bowery Grandst stores at o'clock every even.
x Sn, the ys a"H a. this the long
hour system sst kept up by many OF 'neso e''Aos"
0ents.
Mr.. Johnston. OF tho Executive Committec.
great Interest In the matter 10 that city. HaHoiday
League formed, including the MayoI city 0ncals.
clergy bankers lawyers merchants ana employers
end the Ia almost popular there as here.
Hundreds Of no and other places OF business nave
already adopted II and closed yesterday at noon In
Brooklyn the movement has made wonderful hoauway
In short time One OF the largest meetings ever held
In the Academy OF Music took place few weeks ago
when resolutions adopted urging the general IN
PRODUCTION Of tho halt.hoidsy movement men veaI by
The oniesrs Of the cop.rs ZEE sro Chsrnan Edward
fohnefop eeeretsry. Ysr.xm H. Hagorty Treasurer.
Charles Blaks Mr. Johnston has been connected with
the ho1ss Of Arnold. Constable Co. for over twenty
yesFA
" 10 reference with my connection to the Saturday
Hath Olldsy movement" be said yeserday, - VII!
N this WhAn accepted the position OF chairman !