The Jersey City news., 1899-06-29
HELP THE '[MP[OY[S.
Don't Shop Friday After
noons--Give Them a
Half Holiday.

To the Editor Of THE Jersey city News':--
1t is with no little interest that we ap-
peal to your kindly influence again this
season, In behalf of the Friday half-holi-
day movement. 1t is unnecessary to go
| into any lengthy discussion on this sub
ject-to tell you of the great and in
estimable good accorded employees by the
attainment of such a BOOM because much
your esteemed paper. You know so well
the merits of the cause.
This Friday half-holiday has come to
stay; it has grown with extensive, popu-
lar favor wherever born; 1t is today a
fact in the mercantile life of this city.
But it Is not general. We regret that it
is observed by only two business houses,
the Furst Bros. and the T. C. O'Brien
Co., both of Newark avenue.
This state of affairs should not be. We,
as employees, are entitled to as much con-
sideration from employers in Jersey City
as labor receives elsewhere In review
of the conditions of labor in stores in
other cities, compared with that in the
stores Of Jersey City, we find evidence
of selfish and INSCRIPTIONS difference,
really deplorable.
In the great cities or boroughs of New
York. Brooklyn, Boston, Newark and else
where, during the heated term of July and
August, employees render but fifty-fve
hours of labor in the week. In Jersey
City employers must yield 81 to is hours
for a weeks work. Is this right? Is this
as 1t should be? You will surely say
no! Hence our organization; hence our
efforts to better our conditions, and there
fore our urgent appeal to your wide in
fluence Certainly these conditions as they
exist here should be remedied When this
movement was first started, a few years
ago, there seemed little or no disposition
on the part of the merchants to give it
recognition. canvass of the various
stores was instituted. Disappointment
was met on all sides. We were about to
abandon our cause when, to our glad sur
prise, the two champions In this move
ment came to our rescue, the Furst Bros
and the T. G. OBrien people, who, of
their own free choice and generous sac
rifice, assured US of their goodwill and
support.
This set us hoping we should succeed,
that our demands were only humane, our
cause a just one. To them we owe a
deal of gratitude and, as an organization,
we extend to them our heartfelt thanks,
wishing them every success, for they have
earned the confidence and well wishes Of
every one, particularly every wage-earner
in Hudson county.
Our petition is neither inconsiderate nor
unreasonable. We select Friday, not Sat
urday, just because we realize the value
and Importance of Saturdays business to
every storekeeper in the city. Mindful of
their interests, at the same time we seek
this half-holiday of rest, recreation and
health when they can best afford to con-
cede it, Surely our cause should meet
with universal favor. There should not
be one dissenting merchant in town. We
cannot fail to accomplish this and finish
with success.
Through .The News we appeal to the
ladies, in behalf of their sex, who are
employed in stores, and ask them please
help us to secure this half-holiday by
refraining from shopping on Fridays af-
ter o'clock P. NJ.
HALF-HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION,
j. J. MCCORMACK, sec'y.