The morning call., 1891-01-23
EARLY CLOSING.
The Views of n Prominent Merchant on
the Subject.

The Views of q Prominent Merchant on
the Subject.
Last night Mr. Flavin of M. j. Flavin 81
Co., 924-a2S Market street, was interviewed
by committee of two from the Dry-goods
Clerks Early-closing League, consisting Of
Mr.. j. Dyer, an employe of Eagleson g.
Co., and Mr.. j. Smith of Beamish 6 Co.. In
order to ascertain why it was that the store
had for the last two evenings been kept
open beyond the hours prescribed for by
the league. AS is well known, MIR. Flayin
has been a warm and prominent supporter
of this league. and was one of the first to
sign the contract demanding early closing.
SO that his store being opened after the pre-
| seribed time was a source of considerable
surprise to those interested in the early
| closing movement.
In answer to the query of one of
| the committee, as to his reason for
Keeping his store open after O'Clock,
| ne SAID: Gentlemen, from the GU tset
| OF THIS movement l was one of your
| Slncerest and most enthusiastic supporters.
l. headed the list in your petition to make
the movement general was one of
| the first, if not the first, to act up
| to the agreement, and, as you see, the
last to break away from it; and why
| l now do so | will explain to you. My
| store was closed at o'clock every evening
from the 1st day of December. 1890, to the
| 18Th OF January, 1891, with the exception
| OF one or TWO days before the Christmas
| holidays, in which your league cOncurred,
and what is the result? Why, this: That
while at my store not a cent is taken In
| after O'clock rival stores in front, behind
and on all sides of Inc do the majority of
| their business between the hours OF and 8
IN the evening, their doors never closing till
| then. Now in what way do you support me,
| and what means do you take to protect me?
GU say that you placed boycott Oh SeYe-
| raj of the stores that had broken their
| agreement with you-and that Is where you
made your worst move. The sentiment Of
| the American people-the moral sentiment
| OF our cltiZenS-iS dead against the boycott
| 1t is misuse of power, and, above all, it is
| un-American. This bOycotting, SO far from
| accomplishing its purpose, has done directly
| the opposite. People viii go into Il bOycOtted
store in preference to others merely to show
! their dislike to any such method of carry
| ing out Il purpose As | have stated be-
| lore, l have more than done my part
| to help you and can therefore do no more.
| am now seriously considering of going
out OF business. The Federated Trades
| have not killed me-the early-closiUg move
| ment has not moved me, but the simple
| fact OF the matter is that through fighting
| against great odds to assist you | have hurt
| myself, and the expense has been greater
| than the benefits have received For in
! stance, helped the Typographical Union
| during their troubles to the full extent OF
! my power. 4 contributed heavily TO IDe
| fund Tor the irOn-moiders; l gave 20e0
| pounds of turkey away to charitable inSti-
! buttons on Thanksgiving day and have as
| sisted to my utmost several other needs of
like character, and lastly my having closed
| regularly at O'clock for the last three
months has been a dead loss to me in the
way of lighting, for having yearly contracts
| with gas and electric light companies in this
city and not having had the benefit from
them L have simply wasted so many dollars
| every night.
thoroughly believe in your object l am
a hearty co-operator in the early-closing
| movement, but as | have before stated 1t APP
| pears to me that you are going the wrong way
| TO work to obtain your object. Mr.. Smith
here suggested that they had tried every fair
| way in which to induce the retail clothing
| stores to accede to their demands but with
| out avail. aud that they had therefore been
| forced 10 use more decisive measures. But,
| said Mr.. Flayin, the measures you employed
| were simply suicidal to your cause. Now
| you draw line OF demarcation through the
| city. All houses south of Market were al
| lowed 10 open and close at their own hours,
| while on those north of Market you put a
| compulsory closing. and what has been the
| result? Why, simply this, that the south of
| Market-street stores took the business that
should nave come TO US, and one by one the
other stores opened up again. Gentlemen,
| l have done everything l could To help you
| anu sincerely regret with you that things
| have come TO such a pass. Your very
| laudabe object has for d time received a set
| back, but | hope that in the near future you
| Will make better progress than heretofore.
| l wish you goodnight.