Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-04-04
Says He Is IN the Early Closing
Fight to Stay.
HELD MEETING
Say They Have Ample Funds To Pros
ecute the Contest to the End
Labor Crisis.

|
D. j. Hennessy, the head and principal
stakeholder Of the big mercantile instl-
tuition which carries has name and about
which public interest is now centered, !
from New York city today. MI.
spent some time at the health
resorts of the southern Atlantic coast,
and has entirely recovered from his re-
cent indisposition. He lately spent two
days with Mr.. DAILY at st. Augustine,
Fla, and says that the copper magnate
is enjoying excellent health. all reports
the contrary Notwithstanding.
MI. Hennessy is in the fight against
early closing to stay. He sal as much
to an Inter Mountain reporter this after
noon, and he said 1t in a way to leave
no doubt as to his sincerity.
II have been kept fully informed and
am in touch with the entire situation"
said he, land Mr.. Wood has acted unuer
my directions. I assume full responsl
billty for everything that has been done
by the management in my absence.
Previous to my trip to st. Pau the
committee of three, representing the
Clerks Union called upon me and asked
me if 1 was prepared to close my store at
6 o'clock. l told them I was sorry to nave
to oppose the movement but business con-
ditions were such that | could not comply
with their request. The committee then
asked me if there was any probability OF
my changing my mind previous to March
31st. / replied there was not the sllght-
est probability as I felt l could not close
the store in justice to the interests l rep"
resented. After my return from st. Paul.
and one day previous to my departure TO
NV York, l was waited upon by Presi-
a1-A T,,r@;- D,,<lor nf tho (1ofk'0 A 92pm.
bly, and George Brown of the M. ]. Con-
nell company. They asked me If l had
changed my opinion in reference to early
closing. / told them 1 had not. Mr.. Brown
asked me if a proposition to close every
day in the week excepting Monday n
Saturday at 6 p. M, and keep open on the
two nights mentioned until 8 o'clock
would be agreeable to me. And I replied
that there was no use of our discussing
the matter as I could not entertain it.
Mr. Butler then asked me If / thought
it would do any good to have the move
ment postponed for thirty days. | asked
him if he thought he could persuade the
clerks to adopt a motion deferring action
for that period and he assured me that he
could. 1 then told him that while I could
not give him any encouragement that my
answer would be any different at the end
of thirty days, If he succeeded In defer
ring action, it would enable me to place
the matter before the stockholders on my
trip east and I would abide by their de-
cision, Mr. Butler and Mr.. Brown then left
me with the distinct understanding that
the matter would be postponed thirty
lays and / left Butte under that impress
sion. However ! had only reached Omaha
when l learned that the Clerks Assembly
had refused to postpone action or to make
any concession whatever. Asserting that
we were in their power and they could
force US to do as pleased them.
II wired Mr.. Wood to keep the store
open until eight o'clock under any n
all circumstances; that If the clerks were
determined to force the fight we would
meet the issue and let the decision rest
with u patrons.
Il am sorry to be placed in this posi-
ton but I believe I am right and I pro-
pose to stay with it. Before leaving
Butte / caused a canvass of the miners
to be made to learn their sentiments.
This canvass was made with all the care
possible and the sentiment was reported
o; keeping the stores open until eight
o'clock. This the Miners union has
since confirmed by it's refusal to endorse
the boycott. l cannot say how grateful
1 am to them for the fair n manly
stand they have taken on this question,
They have placed me under a debt Of
gratitude I shall never forget.
"While I am sorry to have to say 1t, I
feel and in fact l have good reason to
know, that this movement is receiving
Its strongest encouragement from many
of my competitors in business, not be-
! cause they are anxious to assist the
clerks. but because they are anxious to
injure our business. l a been reli-
ably informed that a leading merchant
made overtures to the clerks committee
looking to agitation to prevent our pay
ing the miners in our office, in the
even of the success of THU movement.
II have been in Butte nearly II years;
my record here Is known to nearly every
man and woman in the city and | do not
think that even my enemies, would &C.
cuse me of ever having been unfair to-
wards labor or labor unions: on the cor
trarye both in politics and business, my
every act has been friendly to unionism
and even now, / give the clerks credit
for believing they are In the right. But
I feel that they are wrong In endeavorine
to injure my business.
my employees who have remained
withftus during this trouble, will have
no reason to regret their action. I havt
no threats to make, but simply desire tt
emphasize this: Until l feel that / can
In Justice to my business close at ar
early hour, l to keep my store
open until eight O'Clock and l will take
every legal step in my power to protec'
myself and my business"
CLERKS HELD MEETING.
The meeting of the Clerks union las
night was largely attended, about ~
clerks being present. There was blu
one topic discussed-the Hennessy strike
and the best means of prosecuting tn
fight against the big store brought on
some animated talk. No member coul'
be found who was willing to go into de
tells as regards what was done TIL
proceedings We're of a secret nature an