The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-10
FOR A HALF HOLIDAY
VIEWS or NAVY MERCHANTS on
THE INTERVENING QUESTION.
Some Favor the Idea, but Most OF
Them Object to Giving satur-
cay Afternoon.

days because he liked 10 be free from ousi-
ness himself occasionally, as well as 10 have
MS employees enjoy brief vacation, but that
ne had closed IN good faith one Memorial
day and went 20 circus. He came aicng
Washington street on his way home ana
there he saw he's neighbor's door open. The
next day ne went to call on that neigntor
and said TO him he thought the other man
intended to close his store. and the other
merchant explained that he went 10 the
store himself. though none Of his clerks were
there. and left the door open. OF course. II
any one came in TO buy he could not refuse
10 sell At other times when the 1rst mer-
chant had closed his store he had found the
same state Of affairs. Merchants who had
signed petition for half holiday had kept
open And had to do the same" said ne.
''for could not afford to. let any man who
would have come TO my store had not the
other man kept open, get into the habit OF
entering some other mans door,"
II like a half holiday as well as any Of my
clerks" said another merchant. land am
sometimes ashamed TO go off to baseball in
the afternoon and think that all my men
(sone OF them like IL as much as do) are
IN the store. So to make myself enjoy the
game the men take turns in going for an
afternoon and the others double up on any
work that may come up"
what do you think OF the half holiday?"
was asked OF manufacturer. II am giving
It now" was the reply. but NOT with wages.
We have not enough work to keep the men
busy from Monday morning till Saturday
night. and so we close at noon on Satur-
day"
Another merchant said his establishment
would be closed for half holiday during the
hot weather If all others in the same busi-
ness would close also. We may have or
ders by mail coming in the last OF the week
and have always reserved Saturday after
noon to get all OF the orders of our hands,
but we can manage that, Of course, by TAX
ing some other time, providing customers
know that we close Saturday noon and will
send their orders earlier. We would be glad
II the half holiday were some other than
Saturday. We could give Wednesday or Fri
day afternoon better than Saturday"
The manager OF one OF the great depart
ment stores said he would be glad to give the
half day during July and August. "If there
would be concerted movement for half
day among all the stores. particularly the
large ones. we would be glad to do IL. 1 was
never used 70 keeping open store so late
before coming to this city. Saturday is a ter
rible day for US. for we open at in the
morning and do not close till $50 in the
evening. IL Friday afternoon could be made
the day for closing / would like it. This
would be better for us and for our employees.
They would be rested by few hours FRI
day afternoon and be better able to serve
customers during the long Saturday hours.
There would be no reduction of wages
HOLIDAY AND BASEBALL.
The head of large clothing house. when
questioned about the holiday said he under
stood by the newspapers that the ministers
hnd ant rnr4f t1r, Io1e
holiday for the employees and asked that the
a eigners pledge themselves not TO buy from
any store open during the half day chosen
for the vacation. THAT" said he, as equiv
alent to q boycott. and besides that such
clause IS for the customer and not for the
merchant TO sign. There were 1900 signers
TO a petition for Sunday baseball. The
names were OF men who have to work and
their only holiday Is Sunday. When this
came TO the ministers they took the matter
up and used their influence against baseball
on Sunday, and yet at the same time they
want the merchants TO give away thousands
OF dollars In a half holiday during the week
Sunday baseball is a preserver of the peace
as It is shown in cities where there is
game Sunday that the thousands who gath
er to see the game are peaceable for the
whole afternoon and need no large police
OF whom might be led into brawls and other
dsorderly conduct at other places This
store win give half holiday If all the other
stores will. We have large force of clerks
for the busy season and many of them we
retain through dull seasons, In order to
have them when the busy times come
These are all given week vacation with
wages every summer and the clerks IN the
store do the extra work to make up for it.
One OF the large music dealers said If the
others gave the time he would, OF course
but at the same time he would be obliged
70 keep man at the store to receive pay
ments. no matter what day would be Sc
lected for the holiday. Another idea which
was advanced by dealer was that half
day in the middle OF the week would de-
moralize the employees and that they would
be more fatigued the next day than If in
their regular places in the store. He said
there Is not a rush OF business In Indian
apolis which kept the clerks hard worked.
1.-THE men who are interested in gaining
half holiday for The working people," said
the music dealer, viii not touch the people
who need II the most. These are the people
who work on time do piece work. They
are paid according 10 the work they do. If
they are sick or want an hour or a day they
get no money for the time they are not at
work. Then there many workingmen
who are buying homes for themselves and
they work over hours and are glad to do it
In order to get extra money. These, II given
half day. would put In the time and call
1t over hours. There are plenty OF men who
would put in twenty hours day If it were
NJ physical possibility, just TO earn the
= money. There are men who would not know
what TO do with half holiday II they had
It."
while the ministers think they have to
put in their oar for every little thing that
one of them can suggest. would like to
see them make an effort TO have the post
Office shut from Saturday night to Monday
morning. I believe that nine men out CT
ten go to the postoffice Sunday morning for
their mall, and then go TO their offices and
spend the time TIL noon answering the let
tiers they get that day. I would like for
the ministers to take whack at Sabbath
breaking and let the merchants and en-
ployes arrange their vacations and their
half holidays to suit themselves. l cannot
possibly give Saturday. but IL the men who
are working on the holiday movement will
make It Friday afternoon. they can count
me in every time