Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-02
TAKING A VACATION.
Statesmen and Saleswomen Refuse 10
Work Until They Receive
SHORTER HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Seven Large Stores Carry on Their Busi-
ness in Chance Fashion.
"A LABOR BODY INDORSES BENGOUGH

The statesmen and saleswomen In seven of
the largest clothing stores were as good as
their word yesterday morning. and remained
away from work because their employers
would not make them some concessions in
shorter hours and in holidays.
As this affair threatens TO. resolve into a
struggle between a section of organized
labor and the storekeepers interested, it will
be we'll to recapituIate the demands made.
They are, that the stores should close one
hour earlier on Saturdays than customary,
namely, at 10 o'clock, and that they should
remain closed ON Washington's Birthday,
Fourth of July, Christmas and New Years
Days.
For the past year the statesmen and wo-
men-for there are 35 OF the weaker sex in
from 7:3O O'Clock until o'clock, with an
hour for dinner and supper, on week days;
until II o'clock on Saturdays and Christmas
eve; and have had the six legal holidays as
half-holidays, ceasing work at II o'clock
noon. Of these, they are content that Deco
ration and Thanksgiving Days should be
half holidays if they are allowed the others
in full.
HAVE REFUSED THE DEMANDS.
These demands have been refused by
Kaufnanns', Gusky's, Jackson & Son, the
P. c. G. c., Saller & Co. and Charles
Ruben.
Gusky's did not open at ALI yesterday.
Ali day long the usual customers came
along and were confronted with the notice
"Closed" on the door, and by the door
keeper, who made the best excuses he could
under the circumstances. Mr.. William
DeWolt said last evening, that he had de-
termined to resist the demand of the sales
men. He said that they were now paid for
the hall holiday, and his firm could not see
the justice of the request for payment for
full holidays, coupled with the loss of tine,
and that the store should close an hour earlier
on Saturdays. To do that he argued,
would be to turn more OF their trade into the
hands of the non-union stores. AS it was,
any observer could ascertain how these stores
were crowded when his and other union
stores were closed, and he would decidedly
refuse to sacrifice any more of his trade in
the same direction. He estimated his loss
by closing an hour earlier at between S25, 600
and $50, 900 annually, and this he could not
stand. The Pittsburg stores had shorter
hours than others in the country. He would
be willing to reduce the working hours of
his people. if the leaders would compel the
other stores to follow suit; not otherwise.
At Kauimanns' business was conducted
IN haphazard fashion. The wrapping
boys and about 18 or 20 relatives Of the pro-
prietors were brought into requisition, and
served the customers as rapidly as possible.
A salesman at the door let the buyers in in
squads, and it was rather amusing to see 30
or 40 people awaiting patiently an oppor-
fnD tu or in nd op
to buy from the firm:
TOO RATIFIED TO FEEL JOLLY.
Saller & Co. lost their men and did not
do much trade with the few hands left them.
When the proprietor was asked for infor-
nation he turned on his heel and walked
away. One of his men said he was badly
ratified, and didn't feel very jolly.
At the other establishments affected busi-
mess was carried on anyhow, with the aid of
understrappers. Mr.. Ruben said he had
lost three OF his men. He had no objection
to making the desired concessions, if the
labor leaders would place him on the same
footing as the others who were not union,
by making them close too.
The statesmen Issued circular toward
evening calling attention to their position.
Messenger boys were buzy at the store cor
ners distributing them, and they were
eagerly read by interested purchasers. The
other stores enjoyed quite a corresponding
degree of prosperity from the withdrawal OF
patronage from the union stores.
The action OF the knights of Labor in
forcing this strike is condemned by the con-
servative organizations. A strong opinion
prevails, outside of knights headquarters,
that the salesmen went just step too far in
striking. The feeling holds that they could
have attained their object as readily by
peaceful means. The storekeepers will i'm
port men from other cities to fill the places
of the strikers.
INDORSING THE STRIKE.
The Central Trades Council and Build.
ing Trades Council had the salesmen's
strike under consideration last night al
their respective meetings. The former
body sent committee to the latter to confer
with them and committee OF the statesmen.
The result of the deliberation was that both
bodies indorsed the strike.
A committee of three members of the
Building Trades Council was appointed to
call on the storekeepers tomorrow and no.
tify them that the salesmen's attitude had
the support OF the Central Trades Council
and the Building Trades Council.
Circulars will be issued requesting or.
ganized labor to transfer its patronage from
the stores concerned until the matter ha.
been settled.