Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-03-25
THE CLERKS CAUSE.
Last Night'sMee ting at the Central
Church.
short addresses by Dr, Taylor, DIR
kiny0n, william jackson and
Others-ResOIutiOn

The meeting in the interest of the $50
daily and Sunday closing movements held
at the Central Presbyterian church last
evening, was well attended considering
the night. c. E. Adams presided and
the meeting opened with prayer by Rev.
81. G. Marshall. Mr.. Adams spoke of
the need of the $50 and Sunday rest re-
form movement, and the intent of the
meeting to present thoughts, truths and
facts in demonstration of the righteous
ness and Importance of the cause. He
then introduced the first speaker Rev.
Z. +. Taylor, of the First Baptist church,
who spoke particularly of the Sabbath
dissertation, resulting from nom observ>
ance of the Sunday rest movement. He
held that nine.tenths of the business men
really desire Sabbath of rest. There
are few, however, who hold the whip
over the others, and through the obsti-
macy of these few the movement SO gen.
orally popular must prove a fail
ure. The non>observance of the
Sabbath through non-suspension
of business debases business men, relig
iously, spiritually and socially. Com
| munities, he held, that are not Sabbath
observing, are opt soon to deca y and pass
away. There was no object for keeping
open, except absolute sel6shn ess. save
unqualified worship of the golden calf.
He related his experiences as clerk, and
the hardships and over .work he had suf-
fered He believed the observance not
only of Sunday, but of the shorter day
movement would prove beneficial gain
to the merchants themselves If universally
observed
DR.. Z. B. ktnyon read paper in the
interest of the reform, from a physi-
clans standpoint, and the sanitary reasons
Why man should not be over worked
MAJ, he held, never rests; the functions
or nature never cease to operate and man
should so live that no one of the organs
should over-taX any OF the others. All
should share in the duties they perform
TO the end that not one should wear out
before the others. To accomplish this
one shonid stop short of absolute fatigue.
He should change the variety of his work
before he is worn out entirely. For
health and life sake the hours of labor
should be lightened
William Jackson was the next speaker.
He related his experiences as a clerk in
early life, how as an app rentice to
grocer in the city of Liverpool he had
known what it was to be denied the op-
portunlties of evenings free from toll
He spoke of his intense longing for rest
and how he had stood by the door of the
business house in which he was em ployed
and watched men with their dinner
buckets returning home at p. n. and
how he longed to be one of them. Oh,
to be q mechanic. was the intense desire
of his life then, that he might have his
evenings TO himself. Finally he ran away
and came to America to get rid Of the
overworked life of clerk. He clerked
for while in Moline, only until he could
get work in furniture factory on the
island where he toiled until he began the
study of law. He held that the even
ing and Sunday rest should be gwen the
clerk TO improve his intellect and his
moral ind religious qualities. 1t was
with rs all individually TO make the re-
form success or failure The remedy
for the over-burdened clerk is with the
people, who have a right to stop the en-
ployer from over working his fellows.
He assumed that public sentiment was for
early closing and Sunday rest; then let
| public sentiment be felt
Mr.. Adams read letter from Daven-
| port clerk and remarks were also made by
A. M. Blaksley, J. T. Noftsker, Rev. Fl.
G. Marshall and Max Silver stein, of Dsy
export.
Resolutions were adopted as follows
WHEREAS, Certain clothing, groceries
| boots and shoes and other stores of Rock
| Island have been compelling their CLERKS
to work six to eight hours on Sunday,
| and from - to 16 hours ON week DAYS.
| therefore be il
Resolved, That we citizens of Rock
| Island in a mass convention assembled
demand of the merchants of Rock Island
that they close their places of business
| on Sunday and that we most earnestly
| request them to close their stores at $50
p. m., Saturdays excepted. and that we
will pstronize only such stores as will
| grant these humane measures
The following has been received at THE
ARGUS office:
We, the employees of Rock Island
| arsenal, are in favor OF $50
closing and Sunday rest move
ment, and will do all in our power