The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-22
CLERKS APPRECIATION
MANY EXPRESSIONS CONCERN
 ING EARLY CLOSING.
Result Achieved by Retail Commit. tee by Dint of Much Energy
 and Persistence-W1l Like ly Swell Morning Trade.


 General expressions of appreciation were made yesterday by Montgomery clerks because of the success of the Re-
 tall Committee of the Commercial and Industrial Association in securing an agreement for early closing of the retail stores during the summer months. The members of the Retail Committee are Montgomery Retail merchants and
 the agreement was secured through the
 manifestation of much energy and per- severance. For many years the retail stores of | other Southern cities have closed during | the summer season at 6 o'clock. but | Montgomery merchants have not before | been able to agree on the proposition. | It is believed by the mercbants that as
 result of the agreement there will be a
 greater volume of shopping during the l morning hours.
 The Dry Goods Economist. trade journal published in New York. earnestly endorses early closing by retail stores ! during tfc summer months. "Earfy closing Is in the air." says The Dry Goods Economist. Indeed. at the | m,ment. that bee is vociferously buzzing ! m the bonnet of many department man. ager in this metropolis.
 "Half-holidays on Saturdays during July and August. though originally con l fined to stores of the first-class, are now 1 the rule in almost all leading establish
 ments in the various centers of the coun- try
 Early closing innovators. however.
 are again on the move. Not content with Saturday half-holidays and Christmas closlngs, they have made another lead for the rank and file to ponder and even- { tually follow.
 Now it's o'clock closing during June I,.Ixr IL Ul AlrA u~.A | B. Altman & 70. are the pioneers in this l direction in the local field, although some
 of the leading firms In Boston, Philadel- phia and Chicago claim precedence in that innovation over their metropolitan | brethren"
 This trade journal devotes an entire page of it's current edition to the subject of early closing. Many retail dealers of ] the metropolis were interviewed. Here are some of the opinions expressed: P. P. Lynn of John Wanamaker's, said that store had begun o'clock closing the l first day of June and had announced that | such schedule would remain operative | until further notice" ''Nothing can be | lost by such a course," added Mir. Lynn.
 while everything is to be gained. | contented salesforce is an asset beyond all appraisement. Nor is the public in the least disconnected. Indeed. they
  | salespeople."
 NJ Friedsam of B. Altman & Co.,. said his firm begun 5 o'clock closings at in June and will continue till October.
 Its the popular impression that only high-class stores. such as this. dare risk
 such innovations" said MT. Freidsam.
 T can't see it that way. As l view it, early closing would seem almost easier
 for the popular-class store. Why? Con- taIa fnr hn ct part are of the wealthy class, and. being up late at social functions. necessarily rise fate. On this account the afternoon hours are relatively busie- in the high class than the so-called popular one. Be that as it may. we strongly favor early closing and if any further change
 be n ade 1t would likely be in the direc- ton of still further curtailing the shop ping day or prolonging the duration or the early closing period
 Gardiner D. Matthews of A. D. Mat thewss Sons. said that the longer he stayed in business the more clearly he realized the vital importance of loyal CO., operation between a firm and its en1- ployes, and that he knew no more effec- tive way of earning such loyalty than by liberality of treatment. as evinced, for example by early closing.
 This year." MT. Matthews said, i've shall inaugurate the Saturday half-holi- days for the months of July and August on Thursday night, July Sd. thus giving our employees three days vacation: Fri day-the Fourth of July-Saturday and Sunday. We find that our help gain greatly in health by these outing spells. Nor are we glad only on their account. We are also gathers ourselves, as by req son of them we get better service
 Tn all probability we shall close at 5 during August. Moreover. we shall not keep open evenings during the holidays as heretofore"
 Here's prediction which you may take at its par value" said Secretary Butler of the Simpson-Crawford Com pany. ''I believe that the time will come and sooner than you may imagine when department stores will open at g and close at 4:30. Under this schedule the help should be lightly lunched on the premises at the expense of the firm. not more than ten or fifteen minutes being allowed therefor.
 What would be gained thereby? A saving of at least 20 per cent in clerical force seeing that it would entirely dis pense with shifts br 'reliefs' This may be a long look ahead, but, be assured. the time will come when the wisdom of such a course will become so obvious as to result in its general adoption"