The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-24
WILL THEY CLOSE
Saturday Night Question Again
Considered by Merchants.
For TWOSeasOns They Have Quit
at 6 p. NJ.
is NOT YET DECIDED.
WOmen's Federation Taking No
Action This Year.
Sentiment Among Dry Goods
Men FavOrs Closing.
is NOT YET DECIDED.

VIII the Topeka stores close at
o'clock on Saturday nights during
July and August this year, as they
have for the past two summers? That
is what the merchants and employees
are discussing, and although the ques-
ton is not settled it is not likely that
the business houses viii be willing to
take a step backward in this respect.
AS one of the department managers of
a fashionable Kansas avenue dry
goods establishment said this morn
ing:
UNLESS Topeka wants to be count
ed in the country town class, the
stores will not keep open Saturday
nights during the hot weather. In the
cities the shops close every night in
the year at 6 o'clock and at o'clock
Saturday afternoons"
The city federation of women's
clubs has heretofore interested itself
in this matter. and was indeed respon-
sible for the Saturday early closing
hour which was in effect last sum-
mer and the summer before. So far
this year. however, nothing has been
done by the club women, not through
lack of interest, but because having
started the movement they expect it
TO perDetuate itself if it has proven
the employer and the employees. New
ertheless. most of the club women are
taking enough interest individually to
express the hope, to the merchants
whom they patronize, that the clerks
viii not be kept in the stores until 10
o'clock Saturday nights during mid
summer
At Warren NJ. Crosby's the employees
have been asked whether they would
prefer TO get off at 6 o'clock Saturday
nights during July and August or work
until 10 o'clock during those months
and have their Saturday nights free in
the winter time. No vote has been Ia
ken but the question has been discuss
ed Informally. From the standpoint of
the management the early closing hour
in winter IS more advantageous. In the
summer time many people postpone
their shopping until after the heat of
the day and like to come down in the
evening whereas in winter except dur
ing the holiday trade the stores are
comparatively empty on Saturday
nights Also early closing in winter
would save expenses in heat and light.
Some OF the employees are also in. favor
of Saturday nights off in winter in pre-
ference to summer on account of the
theaters and kindred attractions but
the majority probably prefer to have
the rest during the hot weather.
Il am in favor of early closing on
Saturday night one proprietor said
today, but I think the people who
make this request of the merchants
ing their shopping before 6 o'clock on
that night 1t is very inconsistent of
a woman to ask US to let our employees
Oft on Saturday night and then come
down and shop after o'clock at the
places that refuse to close. Last sum
mer part of the stores closed and 9TH
ers staid open. [ saw people VINO had
asked US to close and who were very
much concerned about our employees
working on Saturday nights shopping
as late as o'clock in the stores that
staid open. There is one way to settle
this question once for all and a month
would do it: let the people who want
the clerks to have a rest do their shop
ping before 6 o'clock and refuse to
patronize any store after that hour in
the summer time. They would all close
then"
The early closing hour on Saturday
night in the summer is certainly the
right thing w W. Mills of the Mills
Dry Goods company said 1T may be a
little announcement for shoppers to come
down town in the heat of the day, but
IT males big difference to something
like 500 employees whose only chance for
rest and recreation is in the evening"
In case the Saturday early closing rule
goes into effect this summer the same as
last tomorrow night will be the last Sat
urday night that the stores will be opeu
until the first of September.