Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-08
IN HANDS Of
THEIR TRADE
HenneSSy'S Customers Dc Not
Favor Early Closing.
50 SAYS MANAGER WOOD
Posters Circulated Declaring the Store
Unfair-Miners' Union Men
! Trade There
50 SAYS MANAGER WOOD

Posters declaring the Hennessy Mer-
camille company an unfair concern were
scattered broadcast throughout the city
last night. No name was affixed to the
poster, but the announcement was made
in bold wood type that Hennessy's was
the only mercantile institution in the city
which had refused to comply with he
demands of the clerks union n close at
6 o'clock.
MI. e. N. Wood, manager of the Hen
messy company, was interviewed by a re-
porter for the Inter Mountain today. I'VE
are in the hands of u trade" said he,
and our customers protest against our
closing at 6 o'clock. Since March l our
business has increased very materially
and we take this as an endorsement Of
our position.
Il can readily understand" he con-
tinued. "the endorsement of the early
closing movement by the public. It Is
only right and proper that the movement
should receive this endorsement. If CIR
cumstances were such that we could close
we would be with the clerks. I have
been a clerk myself. and I fully appre-
ciate the advantage gained by being able
to 60 home at s o'clock, and I never re-
~Nv AAA ~ A0NA la AAy 00
being compelled to oppose the movement.
u u comes first, and duty in this
particular instance. demands that we
keep open. Mr.. Hennessy's sentiments
are the same as mine on this subject.
1.-THE movement a the endorsement of
the labor unions. AS far as the miners
union is concerned I believe this senti-
ment is largely confined to the leaders. A
large proportion Of our trade comes from
members of the miners union, and many
OF these customers, the majority Of them
IN fact, nave requested us to keep open,
as early closing would greatly inconven-
fence them. AS a body they desire, of
course, to give the movement moral sup
port, but I do not think 1t wal intended to
carry the fight to any extreme, nor do I
think the members of the union expected
to be drawn into the fight.
w have been placed in a decidedly
unfair position, not only by the public.
y by other merchants. Anyone fam
ma with the history of MI. DAILY or Mr..
been the friend Of labor, and that had it
not been for Mr.. DAILY the men carrying
tin buckets would be working for from
% cents to 81 per day less than they are
now receiving, and it is in the Interest
and at the request of these same boys
that the store is being kept open.
Nor do we think we have been treat
ed 1alriy by the other merchants of the
city. We know from personal inter-
views that the majority OF them. are OBJ
posed to early closing, but they have
taken advantage of the situation and
have thrown the brunt of the fight on
u house. II necessary I could furnish
unquestionable proof OF this assertion
and I believe that this information is
already in the possession Of the sober
minded people Of the city and Of the
leaders of the movement"
Speaking Of the attitude of the Hem
messy employees, Mr.. Wood said: $50
far as I know, not a clerk in our employ
has a grievance. They have been placed
In q delicate position, but have attended
strictly to business and have made no
complaint as regards to our closing.
Their attitude has been such as to com.
mend u hearty appreciation"