Omaha daily bee., 1890-05-04
Fourteen Hours n Day.


For two successive seasons the clerks in
the retail boot and shoe stores of the city
have endeavored to prevail upon their en-
ployers to close their places of business at 6
o'clock p. M, at least during the summer
months.
Two years ago the clerks prepared and
circulated petition, which was pretty gen.
orally signed; but, as one or two of the lead
ing firms failed to live up to the agreement,
the experiment was not tried.
Last year, as summer approached, not dis
couraged by their former failure, the clerks
again made an effort to bring about the re-
form, but again their work went for naught
Some of the firms would not enter into the
compact, and for this reason no results were
attained.
This year, for the third time, the men come
smlingly to the front and ask their employ
ers to grant their request.
Last week Il petition was circulated among
the retailers, and with put few exceptions,
was signed, most of the merchants feeling
that when their men commenced work at 80
in the morning and labored until o'clock in
the evening, their interests were being
served us faithfully as they could demand
To get an expression from the clerks upon
the subject of closing representatives OF the
various houses We're interviewed yesterday
and found to be almost unit IN favor OF clos
ing.
E. b. Talmage of Hayward Bros.-Our
firm is strongly in favor of closing at o
o'clock, believing that this is the first step
towards educating the public to make the
purchases in the afternoon instead OF waiting
until evening. In giving my opinion give
the opinion of all of the clerks i'll the store,
when say we are strongly in favor of the
movement, For instance, come down town
go to work ut 7:30 every morning and con-
tinue at work until o'clock at night,
month. | have sold shoes for seven
years and, during that time, unless when
sick, have scarcely ever spent an evening at
home The way we conduct business at the
present time, quitting at the time we do, it is
nearly 10 O'clock when we reach our homes,
and by the time we have washed, eaten our
supper and are prepared to devote some time
and attention TO our families, 1t is nearly mid
night Yes, sir l am positively in favor of
early closing, and not only are the clerks, but
the proplietors. There is only about so much
trade, and, if we lose it Saturday evening, we
will get most of it the following Monday, or
some other day during the week.
Thomas Ii. Norris of Norris u WILCOX
You may say that ], as well as all the other
men, are for early closing and always have
been. We favored IL one year ago ana we
favored it two years ago. Both times the
clerks would have secured these extra hours
they now ask had it not been
for one or two merchants who
signed the agreement ana then withdrew.
When men go TO work at o'clock in the
morning and work until q O'Clock in the even
ing IL Is as much as any man ought to ask OF
his employees. / don't think the merchants
would lose any trade, as the public generally
is i'm sympathy with the movement and am
confident the people would patronize the mer-
chants who would inaugurate this new plan
and carry it out. When said new l meant
only new 70 Omaha, because today in almost
every city when any attempt TO be metIopoli-
tan is made, not only the shoe stores but all
other retail stores close early and give their
help the benefit of the evenings. This has
been tried in St. Paul, Minneapolis, Chicago
and a dozen other cities might name and in
every instance it has worked SO well that you
could not induce the merchants to again
adopt the country-town plan OF keeping their
stores open all day and half OF the night.
John A. Bryan's o1 Schoelpley's boot and
shoe house My people favor early closing,
believing that oy so doing they will have a
better trade than now. They also consider
that If a man puts In ten 70 twelve hours per
day he is doing enough. But /, as well as the
other clerks in the store, realize that itwould