The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-05-23

ed action looking to SEChE Ahf NEWMAN.
6. union with the Knights of Labor. The
wisdom or policy, at this time, of that reso-
luton was seriously doubted but the pre-
vaiiing idea seemed to be that, as large
part of the community of purch lsers are
families of the Knights, it woull be wise
for the clerks to intert st them in the move
ment to the extent at least of getting their
wives and daughters and uncles, sweet
hearts and aunts to make their purchases
early.
The committee appointed at tits meet
ing saw many of the tradesmer, and finally
William Cunningham, the manager at
Marshall & Balls large clothing establish
ment on Newark avenue, issued request
that the merchants meet to consult upon
the matter. It was hoped that Metzler,
who runs the Boston One-Horse Clothing
House, would unite in the movement. His
attitude of defiance is the most serious
menace to the movement He has de-
clared that he will keep his placs open till
nine o'clock, in spite of-everything. His
clerks may 60 home at six o'clock every
evening, if they dare, and he will put 9TH
ers on till nile o'clock, if necessary but
he will keep open. A general movement
for early closing might, it was hoped, at
:
eral when it was seen that he was not on
hand. Those who were there were Cum
nlngham, @. p. Herman, Henry Perlmut-
ter, William Laughlin, G.. P. Friend, Myron
Furst, A. Xxi, Mr.. HAYES, of Ohm
stead & Co., Mr.. Praeger, Mr. Cohen, VIM
field s. Anness, w. Ludlam, of the Allan
tic and Pacific Tea Company, MIR. Vessels,
Al. Madden, Fl. Morris. and the Liverpool
Clothing Store man. Among these gentle
men, Mr.. Furst took an advanced stand
in favor of a six o'clock clos
ing hour, not only during the
dull season, but the year around,
la all the large cities, he declared, business
houses close at that hour. II the stores
were ali closed at six, everybody would
have to buy before that hour This dd
eaptandasm method of coercing the buyers
did not meet with universal favor. No one
ventured to declare for later closing hour
than eight O'Clock, but the most of them
drew the line at that. The more conserva-
tive reformers argued that the people
must be educated up to the ilta of early
closing by degrees. Close this year at 8
o'clock Get the idea of making purchases
before eight o'clock inoculated in the
minds of buyers first, and then gently
draw the seven o'clock skein around them.
When the community has ali been drawn
into that line, then gently break to them
the idea of making ante-six o'clock pur-
chases. When that is done, the whole re-
form is accomplished on the advanced ba-
sis urged by MIR. Furst 1t was finally de-
cided, on Mr.. Furst's Suggestion, to APP
point a committee to wait upon the trades
men in all parts of the city, and secure
their attendance at a mass meeting of
business men to be held IN the near
future. Over this meeting it is designed
to have Mayor Cleveland preside; and the
clergy of the city are to be invited to at
tend, and hurl the thunderboIts of their
eloquence at the obdurate, hard-hearted
employers WI hesitate about their duty
to their hard-worked journeymen. The
date for the meeting has not been fixed.
1t will probably be held 10 the Aldermanic
chamber, and will be one Of the most in
teresting meetings ever held in the city.
So, to make resume OF the whole situa-
ton, it may be said at the end, as at the
start of eur article, that the Early Closing
movement is yet in an iuchoate state, with
prospect of becoming definite and tan
gible and delightful reality. The attitude
of Metzler may stand in the way of the re-
form being effective in some quarters. He
Sells udts huu tuo udt ulcu may uuu II
necessary TO compete with him by keeping
open. lie sells gents furnishing goods
and, as the gems fuTnisl X goo Is men do
not propose To let him recruit ! is trade al
| their Expense, they may be forced to keeN
open but Marshall & Ball and Clerihew,
who sell clothing, as he does, do not feal
his competition, aud with him or without
him. they will shut up during July anG
| August NJ eight O'clock. The ggocers' trade
Is one, too, in which much progress may
not be made. The.views of grocer DAME
E. Cleary, as given TO the readers of thu
1ATTLER during the Early Closing excite
ment of last Summer, will be urged thj'
season as strongly as then. An early clos
| ing on tbs avenue will drive all the bust
ness from the avenue to the side stree
| grocery stores. But an attempt will b.
| made to bring them all in.