Evening star., 1901-09-19
SUSPENSION OF BUSINESS
PEOPLE OBEDIENT TO REQUEST OF
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
For Five Minutes, Beginning at 2:3O
O'Clock, There Was u Special
Mark of Respect.

There was almost a complete paralysis
of business in Washington for five minutes
at 2:3O o'clock this afternoon. Hardly a
hand of industry or commerce moved.
Everything was still and quiet. The cessa-
ton of operations was ordered and executed
out Of respect to the memory of the late
President. AT 1:3O o'clock, Canton time,
the funeral services over his remains be-
gan at his Ohio home That was 2:30
o'clock, Washington time. From 2:30, the
minute when the exercises began, until
2:35, Washington bowed it's head and
prayed. The steam railroad shops hushed
their hum, clogged their wheels and the
men laid down their tools. Even the tele-
phone bells were given their quietus All
was inanimate and lifeless. 1t was a silent
but forceful tribute to the memory of the
late President, and all Washington knew
that the services at Canton had begun.
In Other Sections.
AS it was in Washington so was it
throughout the country. In some places
open prayer was held upon the streets.
In Chicago, for example, the request was
made of those riding in the street cars,
stopped at the appointed time. to sing the
late chief magistrates hymn, Nearer, My
God, To Thee" All branches of trade and
sponse to the feelings of the people, was
dead.
In Washington orders were given early
this morning by the managers of the street
railroad companies to discontinue opera
tions for five minutes at 2:3O o'clock Mo-
tOrmen and conductors were tod to stop
In their tracks. wherever they might be, at
exactly 2:3O. These directions were pro-
mulgated by both the Washington and the
Capital Traction Companies. AS a result
thnrn u<r <,S%v
during the five minutes Indicated.
At the steam railroad depots somewhat
similar plan of operation was followed.
The working shops were closed. The me-
forge, the furnace and the lathe. The
men all deserted their work, and from
each there went up silent prayer for the
soul Of the departed Noione talked in
The Chesapeake and Ohio Telephone
Company stopped Operations during the
same period. and Major Sylvester, super
intendent Of police. gave orders of the
partment.
Orders to Police.
Major Sylvester had, telephoned the fol-
lowing order to the various station houses:
''Out of respect for the memory of our
late President during the funeral hour be-
tween 2:3O and 2:35 o'clock p.m., for q
period OF five minutes. the fmembers and
employees of this department will suspend
all manner of active work in writing,
sending telephone messages, and no work
of any kind shall be DONE
Business at the police stations was sus-
pended, and the policemen upon the beats
as stated stopped where they stood in
silent reverence. The firemen, under or
ders from Robert w. DuttOn, chief en-
gineer, were all brought to attention at
the various headquarters and remained SO
for the five minutes.
The Associated Press, the great news
gatherer of the country, which know no
limit to Its working hours and which is
indefatigable. closed for the first time
in its history. 1t didn't hunt for news
during those few brief moments. and also
refrafned from disseminating its reports to
the reading world. .a
The Evening Star was mindful Of the
occasion. During the five minutes all its
operations in the mechanical and editorial
department were suspended and the plant
remained inactive. T
Fully 90 per cent OF the business houses
of the city were closed during the entire
day. The suspension extended to every
line of trade. Even the saloons were
closed in some sections OF the city.