The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-28
HAS A KICK COMING.
The Closing Agreement Was Violated
Washiugton's Birthday.

AHc Siosihs agreement was t1Gsalfs
Nashtngton's Birthday.
Missoula, Feb. 24.-The clerks of thu
retail stores in the city are, in som,
instances, disappointed concerning tn.
failure of the early closing agreement
which was signed by so many of thu
| merchants not long ago and which wa.
published in the Standard at the time
1t is alleged that the terms of the
agreement are openly violated in sew
| eral cases and the clerks fear that the
| whole arrangement will be upset. The
/ following communication, dated Feb
%. Washington's birthday has a bear
1 ing on the case:
/ To the Editor of the Standard:
Inasmuch as this is national and
/ legal holiday the banks. postoffioc
schools, public buildings and business
houses will be closed. For what? In
honor of the birthday of the father Of
our country. He. the emancipation of
this great and glorious commonwealth
from the tiraldom of a foreign yoke,
wound about her the soft and fieecy
mantle of sweet liberty A thankful
nation to-day reveres the memory of
this great patriot ana his faithful fol-
lowers. But how stands Missoula?
On the morning Of this anniversary.
we read on the pages of our local
morning paper the headline, 1T VIII
be Observed
How true is this statement. The
banks closed. The schools closed The
public buildings closed No machine
shop whistle with its wild echo dis
turbed the quiet slumbers of this pat
riotic city But what about the bust
ness houses of the city? All closed
tight and standing pat? Alas, no.
True to the spirit of jealousy, afraid
of competitors taking in a dollar,
they opened their doors wide and to a
strangers eye, Missoula might as well
have been city in the queens domain
instead of holding her place as the edu-
cational center of the great state of
Montana.
About month ago the principal mer-
chants of the city signed an agreement
to close their stores on all legal holi-
days. Is not Washington's birthday
a legal holiday II ii is. wherefore
this violation of the agreement?
This petition also included early clos
ing and Sunday closing. How is it be-
ing lived up To?
Where are the patriots of Missoula?
On the evening of this Washingtons
birthday words of patriotism We're ut
tered, imbuing in the minds of listeners
noble aspirations, but what about the
deeds? The day has not been observed
as II ought to have been. In the neigh
borhood of 100 employees of business
houses have been behind the desks and
the counters of their departments, fol-
lowing their daily avocations, and at
night are invited by card To attend the
birthday party of the greatest patriot
Of American history Why this sham?
Where are the ministers of Missoula,
10 In number, with their host of follow
ers of 10 or more different denomina-
tons? On Sunday we hear from the
lips OF those men of learning how and
what we should do: but how about the
acts OF the nearer? Missoulas citizens
cannot either get enough into their
homes to carry them over one day or
else the business houses will not allow
them, because it is impossible to get
unanimous closing of business houses
Nhere are the unions of MiSsouia 10 |
or more in number with their host of |
followers. who pride themselves in bet |
tering their fellow men by shortening /
hours of labor for them by their stir |
ring words, as they meet from night to |
night, but when action Is necessary or |
when pocket is involved, where are /
they? The doors of business houses are I
open at all times and union men and +
non-union men must work on legal holi-
days. Sundays and week DAYS unraa- !
sonable hours.
Missoua of the present day is not
what IL was 10 or 10 years ago. Prog
ress has developed il into a business
center, and as such she should be an
example. We certainly are not pro-
crossing along the line of patriotism
when we allow legal holiday to pass
lnobserNed as we have done on this
birthday We certainly
IRE not progressing as an American
'ity when We open our business houses
IN sundays and until . and 10 o'clock
IN week nights.
Who shall lead us ont of this byp.opa
ystem OF procedure? The merchants
themselves seemingly cannot amongst
themselves settle the difficulty the
aeor unions have tried and up to the
present time have failed and instead of
,eing better, We are on the eve of get
ing worse deal by certain lines of
BUSINESS threatening To open all their
oors. Now the only remedy it seems
me Is 10 be accomplished by the
eople. Every household is a law unto
lseH. Let this be on every household
tatute book; Purchase what we re-
ulre for holiday use, for Sunday use,
he previous day. If something should
G forgotten borrow from a neighbor
I go without rather than frequent any
lace or business to procure the thing
rom any store. Then you can say
your business men; Go to your
ONES and families, If you have any.
his is Washington birthday-go helm
1em TO celebrate in a true American
ashion this Ngal holiday. Go on this
unday morning 10 your respective
aurches with your families If YOU
ave no God To worship cease for one
ay TO worship Mammom. Life is short
no SIX days week are long enough.
GU need physical rest on the seventh.
nd To enjoy one day is seven at home,
hen, and not till then. viii Missoula
2 III line with patriotism and good
overnment.
FOREIGNER. BUT ONE pATRI-
oilS 10 AMERICAN INSTITU-