The labor world., 1899-04-01
4 Protest Against Violating til,
Agreement to Close Business
HOuScS at RenSOnnhIn Hnura

Agreement to Close Business
Houses at Reasonable Hours.
Editor Labor World: Will you kindly
permit the undersigned, representing an
| association of about 800 sales people, to
earnestly protest against a violation of
The agreement among the representative
| business houses in THE city to close at
reasonable hours-enabIng proprietors
and their sales people to have their even
ings for that rest and recreation essential
to those who desire to give the best OF
service during fair working hours? Eight
years ago the mercha Is of the city
signed an agreement-the dry goods
ings excepted, the clothing and shoe
stores to close at $50 4. 1m., Monday and
Saturday evenings excepted. Large
stores in other lines were willing and did
adopt one course or the other.
Last Sunday mornings News Tribune
contained the announcement from one of
the business houses that until further no.
tice it would remain open evenings for
but reasonable to regard this as the en-
tering wedge for return to the old days
of late closing. At any rate it is a viola
ton of the agreement at this time, and if
one house violates it another can, if SO
disposed, and justice to each house con-
I>cerned.
Duluth is no longer a village where
all the men in the town meet at the
country store at night to talk politics and
| chants having city places of business and
city stocks should, and the majority OF
them want to, do business after approved
city methods. The leading business
p. M, and in many places some lines OF
| business close much earlier. Let all who
take pride IN the progress Of the city use
! their best efforts against the return te
closing, which is surely a step backward
But what must be deemed of fal
| weightier consideration than the m2ste ei
! of pride in the city is the injustice 1t will
| work to the large number employed II
| the stores, whose hours of labor are al
! ready enough. In these stores are neal
| 800 sales people, perhaps 100 Of then
' women and girls. There are hundreds o
preciate and know how tiresome it is tt
stand on the fee 9 to 10 hours a day, tax
| ing care of stock and waiting on cust"'
| mers. Are not these hours sufficient
Will not adding three or four more eacf
day Zoe too much of burden to beal
, without soon causing a breakdown ir
| health? A few hours at home or other.
wise enjoyably spent in :the evening l:
! necessary to the brighter life of anyone
! and if of advantage to employers, as Il
makes THEIR ulSle dAA'A S'pdDie
! of better service during the day.
| The writer has made inquiries and Il
pleased to know that the proprietors OF
| ali other stores than the one making the
| announcement are opposed to this late
closing They want the agreement which
| has been enforced to be continued and rig
| idly adhered to. They believe In justice
| to themselves, and in justice to those
that serve them, few hours be kept
| free from the care and toll of business.
| The public are not petitionns for the
| stores to be kept open in the evenings all
days of the week, nearly all business
| houses do not want to do SO, the 5ol
sales people Will have great injustice done
! them by such a movement; must 1t then
| be done to satisfy the caprice or whim
| of one house? Sometimes when a matter
! is fairly presented the better nature Is
A RETAIL CLERK.