The record-union., 1891-01-19
EARLY CLOSING.
What Was Said and Done at Yester-
terday's Mass Meeting.
Men Who Sympathize With the Over
worked Clerks-An Organizes
tion Formed.


the Superior Court was well filled yester-
day, on the occasion of the mass meeting
called in the interest of the early-closing
movement.
G. w. Mckay, President of the Council
OF Federated Trades, called the meeting
70 order and presided throughout. He
said the matter at issue was one in which
all the retail clerks were specially inter-
ested. The Federated Trades would act
with and aid them as far as possible.
But the only way for the clerks to pro-
ceed, in order to win, was to organize. It
was necessary that all classes of wage
earners should organize and work to-
gether for their own good.
j. Hantsman next addressed the meet
ting, at the request of the Chairman. He
also advised the clerks to effect an organ
lzation of their own, and elect delegates
fherefrom TO cooperate with the Feder-
ated Trades. All remembered the
troubles that had from time to time
arisen between labor and capital, and of
the long and tedious battles that had been
fought between these two great elements.
But labor was going to win in every
respect. The only way for the clerks to
90 was to form an organization and join
the Federated Trades, and then the later
could help them. It should be COM
paratively easy matter for them to carry
their point, il they but go about it in the
right way. Those present should come
forward and sign the roll of membership
Tor an organization, and then get others
to come into it.
E. G. Earl reported that he had visited
large number of grocery stores which
deal in tinware and like goods and repre-
eented TO the proprietorS thereof the in
justice that was being done other and
regular dealers in those lines who close
their business places at an early hour in
order to give their employees needed rest
and recreation. He had asked them to
sign an agreement to close at o'clock in
the evening, with the understanding that
all should do so. Many of those upon
whom he had called signed the agree
ment, with that understanding He
mentioned the names of several firms
that had so agreed. The only thing to be
done, Mr.. Earl said, was for the visiting
committee to go ahead and endeavor 10
persuade all the business houses to make
similar concessions.
rrx Mckay again reminded the clerks
who were more directly interested in
the matter than others-that they could
not expect the Federated Trades to close
the stores for them, but they were willing
to do whatever was right< to help the
clerks along in their laudable undertak-
ing. &
Rober Fisher was called on for remarks.
and he addressed the meeting at some
length on the benefits to be devised by
employees from organization and mutual
action. Our daily lives, he said, are made
OF sacrifices. Those who had to purchase
home supplies often found it convenient
to do their trading in the evening, but it
was at the expense of the comfort of
others. Therefore no reasonable person
would object to making such slight sac
rifice as was asked by the clerks of the
stores. who stand as much in need of the
proper amount of rest as any other class.
lie said the members OF trades and other
labor organizations were consistent in
their advocacy Of reasonable hours OF
employment, and stood ready TO lend
helping hand to the clerks, if the latter
would organize in their own behalf.
Chairman Mckay again spoke briefly,
suggesting that the clerks present effect /
at least temporary organization. He
referred TO the difficulty that arose nearly
a year ago between some of the san
Francisco foundry proprietors and the
molders in their employ, and asked
where would the latter be to-day had it
not been for the labor organizations of
the country, which had stood by them
from the lrst. But for this help, he said,
the molderS would have starved to
death, and ere this been buried at the ex-
pense Of the public. But they were still
IN the fight, for they had substantial aid
al nv is'IOA ~ vi tliS
country.
School Director C. NJ. Harrison being
present, he was called upon, and adj
dressed some very spirited remarks to the
audience. lie said he had always been
an advocate of organized labor. If the
clerks would follow the advice that had
been given them, he was sure the mer-
chants would grant their request. Speak
ing for himself, he was free to say that
the money he earned belonged to him
self, and that he had the right to spend it
just where he pleased. But not Il dollar
OF it should ever knowingly be passed
over the counter of any storel<eeper who
had not the proper feeling for his en-
pioyes, and no other man who had TO work
Tor his living should patronize such a
man. That might be called .'boycotting,'
or anything else, it nlattered not-he
would deal only with those employers
who treated their employees properly
q. IL. Jost spoke of the reforms that
had been brought about In the interest of
labor through organization. Forty years
ago his father worked twelve hours a
day, but now he (the speaker) had only to
work nine hours. He knew of no reason
why the clerks should work so many
hours longer than other people. Ten
hours should be sufficient for people to
do all their trading. HeadSised the clerks
to organize for their own protection. In
conclusion, he moved that a roll be
clerks present to sign it and perfect pre-
liminary organization.
+. G. Elkus, proprietor of the Farmers
and Mechanics Store, also made speech
He said that before the present move
ment had been started he had caused
the proprietorS of several stores engaged
in the same line of business as his to be
interviewed on the subject of closing at q
o'clock, and several appeared to be will
ing to do so. The firm OF which he was a
member felt an interest in the welfare
and comfort of their clerks, as well as
those of other houses, and We're ready to
join in the proposed movement. stEIe
thought, however, that it would be better
for the clerks in the drygoods stores ahd
those employed in other establishments
to work Independently in the matter, be-
cause if one class OF business men should
not accede to the request, and others
should, the movement would be at least
partially successful.
After some further discussion the clerks
present effected an organization and
elected the following officers: President,
j. G. Moore; president, S. H.
Thompson; Financial Secretary, C. A.
Williams; Recording Secretary, +. II.
Jost; Treasurer, Il. q. Earl.
PREACHED FROM THE PULPIT.
The early-closing movement was made
the subject of sermon by Rev. j. B. Sill
cox. The church was crowded, and the
large congregation listened with deep in
terest to the reverend gentlenlan's elo-
quent and earnest appeal for justice and
humanity on behalf of the oyerworked
clerks in establishments that keep open
until late hours at night. He urged his
lady hearers TO interest themselves in
the matter, and to set an example for
others to follow, by doing no shopping
after Is O'Clock in the ey0nip0