The morning call., 1893-01-03
MUST HAVE AIR.
Cry of the Barber Man and
Brother.
SHUT UP SHOP ON SUNDAY.
This Haif-Holiday Business Is Not
the Thing at All, They
Say.


There are two organizations OF razor-
wielders in this city. One is the Journey
men BARRIERS Union, which consists of
those who lather the cheek for weekly
compensation. II matters not to them
whether they clip many perlcraninm dur
ing the day or shave but few customers, tor
their financial returns are always the same,
except on occasions of the uncertain tip.
They are wageworkers, and. it is said by
those who are supposed to know, that there
are about 1900 Of them. OF these abcut 1000
b elong to the Journeymen BARRIERS Union.
and they comprise ali organization the bosses
do not like to tackle in an antagonistic way.
The other organization is composed of
the bosses of the different shops throughout
the city. There are many Independent boss
BARRIERS. however, who do not affiliate with
the prOprietorS' union and who conduct
their shops without regard to either organl-
zation. These independent barber-shops
are those run by men In the outer districts
of the city whose patronage does not justify
them employing any help except on Satur-
days and holidays. They do all the shay
ing and clipping themselves, and when
they want help for the usually vacant chair
they secure it by Advertising for the num-
Der of transient BARRIERS Is very large. Some
of these transient BARRIERS are those who
have fallen from grace and who only brace
up'' in order to work for few days to Sc
cure few dollars 10 invest III more
fusel oil.
Thew get 81 day as extras, and two or
three days week is all they desire to work.
They are soon spotted" 10y the proprietors.
Other transient BARRIERS are those who have
lost their job and who are willing to take
a few days work in order to make both ends
meet. A third class Of transient BARRIERS is
those who have grown old 10 the scra ping OF
mems chns, and whose health does not per-
nit them to work continuously for any
great length OF time.
The existence of this large class of
transient BARRIERS has always been thorn
in the side OF the Jaurneymen BARRIERS
Union. and has often materially influenced
them in their union plans for the benefit OF
the regularly employed and organized bar
bers.
Recently considera BILE aecessions have
been made 20 the ranks of the Journeyman
BARRIERS, and an infusion OF new blood
seems to have ensued AS 1898 is going to
be a year for great things, the working bar
bers do not desire to be out of the race. and
desire to make the year memorable by &C.
comprising the closing Of barber-shops on
Sundays.
The plans of the Journeymen BARRIERS
Union cannot be divulged as yet because
they do not desire to show their hand. 1t is
apparent that the subject has gone beyond
talk. as it has been discussed in the various
city shops for some time, and the workers
all express themselves as willing TO make a
hard fight for the success Of the movement.
The boss BARRIERS are aware that such a
movement is on foot. but will say nothing
and take no action until the workers begin
the fight.
'.rhe working BARRIERS want Sunday holt
days like all other tGiers. said a prominent
member Of the Journeymen BARRIERS Union
yesterday, who did not desire his name men,
toned, because lie was in very hot shop.
"At present We have what is called half
Sunday holiday. But this is farce. There is
no lialf-hoiday about it at all. We have to be
at the shops earlier on Sundays than anyother
day. AT u O'Clock the boss carefully locks
the doors. But do not suppose our day s
work is over, for it is not.
Nv hen the front door is closed the shop
Is always crammed full of late corners. who
have just got out of bed and hurried to the
shop TO get in a lew minutes before the
stroke of Il o'clock.
"Before we leave we have to shave, cut
the hair and shampoo every man who has
entered before The noon hour. In my shop
each man who enters is given ticket with
a number on ii IN order to know when his
turn comes. This is done in justice to the
customer in order TO prevent him from be-
ing beaten out of his turn. for the sharper
is always ready to bounce into a chair and
confiscate the right of somebody else.
well, on Sunday at IL O'Clock have
seen as many as forty men, and have called
out Ne. 60 at o'clock in the afternoon. No
barber can leave the shop until all these
men are shaved. When a man wants his
hair cut, then shave and then shampoo,
insisting on having Sunday twirl placed
on his mustache. you can see how much time
each customer takes. This man | mention
would take a full half hour.
Around 5 o'clock or half-past the tired
barber. who has been working since or 7
O'Clock in the morning and who has had
nothing to eat since going on ON account of
the rush, Is allowed to 90.
HE has been working continuously with
out break and desires food. After eating,
going to his home and dressing, he eme rges
TO find tile sun on the decline, the peo-
Pile all coming home from across the bay
and the park and Cliff House. The pleas
ures of the day are over. The'warm. bright
sunshine is no more. Everybody is going
to supper.
"And yet the bosses call this Sunday
half holiday fer the barber, and people be-
lieve them.
"Wby. tell you, barrier prefers an
ordinary days work. in which he has a
little rest now and then. to the continuous
drudgery of Sunday. which they misname a
half holiday. OF course, / speak OF the
large shops, where the great majority of
the BARRIERS are employed, and not of the
small places run by R proprietor in the
suburbs with extra help.
1--WE want the public with us in our move
ment." said THE CALLS informant. land
we desire them TO understand our position
we'll. When they do we know they will
give us their moral support. Let US have
little of the enjoyment of life when all
other people are enjoying themselves.
I'VE know we cannot get Sunday-closiSg
to1y heytt FIR and
as we'll begin now. In many of the cities
of the East all barber-shops are closed and
there is no Inconvenience to the public.
Everybody gets shaved. just the same.
'When people know that they must get
shaved at certain time or go with rough
chin they will always be on hand Mt the
barber-shop in time. The only thing is to
let them know that they have to do so and
they will accept the situation and get
shaved on Saturday.
This principle was proved when. after a
very hard fight, we got our alleged half
Sunday holiday. The bosses kicked at the
loss OF trade. The people kicked because
we won our fight. Are there any complaints
now?
$50 if we win the Sunday CLOSING fight the
bosses and the proprietors will in little
while forget all about kicking.
Now we do not propose to DO any in
justice 10 Tie UOSStS OI uepIite iucHl Oh any
Of the time or service due. In spirit of
fairness and with desire to compromise
we are willing to make little sacrifice in
our turn. You must know that every two
weeks each barber has one holiday, but
never on Saturday or Sunday. Now the
working BARRIERS are willing TO give up this
day which they have always had In return
for Sunday closing. Besides the BARRIERS
are willing to work later on Saturday nights.
Ia not this fair proposition?
MANY of the bosses have been APP
preached on the subject, and not few are
willing to stand in with the boys. They do
rot desire general strike of the workmen.
rs the places of master raZor-welders are
hard to fill Get your chin scraped by a
bad barber and see. Customers often fol-
low a smooth, easy shaver from shop to
shop.
1.-THE downtown boss BARRIERS are not so
much opposed 10 the Sunday-closing move
ment IL they c0uId get their brethren in the