The Billings gazette., 1899-12-05
TO CLOSE THEIR STORES
Billings Merchants Take Action
for Early and Sunday
Closing.
ALL BUT ONE OR TWO
Have Agreed to Close md They Will
BE Waited Upon Today
by " Committee.

+ An interesting meeting of the mer.
Fchnnts Of Billings was held last night
at the store Of the Billings Furnitype& &
Carpet Co., to come to some conclusion
in regard to the Sunday ana early clos.
ing movement in the evenings, The
meeting Was we'll attended, there he
ing the following representatives pres
ent: y. =. Ludsrman, j. N. MoCraok-
en-, D. Vnh H9rGe. @. Yegen, Jos. Zim.
norman. Thgs. Chapple, 9. W. Fores-
ter, W, L. Einton, j. MoGreRor, f. b.
Connolly. Il. Eisenber2 and W. Fl. Mo.
! Cormiok. Three other firms were not
represented. Wis B. W. Toole, Dono-
van q Spear and Hogue. Robinson & o.
but they have signed the early closing
petition and stated previously that they
would abide BY whatever action the
meeting took.
Mr.. Eisenberg stated the object Of
the meeting, which was for the purpose Q
Of getting the business men together
and deciding definitely what they
would do in the matter Of early closing
and on Sundays.
Mayor Yegen was elected chairman
of the meeting and l.. Eisenbere secre.
tary, Mr.. Yegen stated that l,a was
willing to try the new movement, but
he would like to get all the merchants
interested in 1t.
From the discussion 1t was evident
that with the exception Of one or two
present, all were strongly in favor of
early closing and also Sunday closing.
W.. j.. Linton was strong In his agita'
tion OF Sunday closing. II seemed to
be the opinion Of one or two that the
matter ought to be dropped unless
every merchant In the city entered into
the agreement. but Mr.. Eisenherg was
emphatioally against such procedure.
He said he did not believe in the mer.
chants throwing up their hands and
crying quits because one or two would
not enter into the project. He thought
that the way things have shaped them.
selves, that the merchant who persists
IN keeping open will lose By 1t. The
merchant may take In few stray dol.
lars at night. but his day sales will
show decided decrease.
Mr.. Luderman moved that the mer-
chants close their places of business at
8 o'clock each evening up to within
two weeks Of phristmas and Saturday
nights, when they MY Keep open until
10 o'clock, and >s46se all day on Sun.
days and holidays. Everyone voted
heartily in favor Of tho motion, with
the exception Of Jos. Zimmerman.
Mr.. Connolly then moved that
committee be appointed, Of which the
chairman be member, to wait upon
the other merchants and try and get
them interested in the movement.
Messrs Connolly, Linton. Eisenberg,
Thos. Chapple and Spear weie appoint
ed as such committee, and 1t was
agreed that the committee start on its
work the next day at 2 p. IN.
The meeting then adjourned subject
to q call Of the chairman. All the
merchants present seemed TO be greatly
pleased with the outcome Of the meet.
ing and feel assured that a much better
order Of affairs, not only IN business
circles. but social as we'll, will exist
under the new move. Their action of
last night will be gladly hailed by
every mother, wife, relative or sweet.
heart in the city, as we'll m the many
men who earn their living by their
daily toll behind the counter, and all
these are able to appreciate the early
closing and Sunday closing movement
in more ways than they are given
credit.