The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-11-23

fFrom Saturday g Advertiser.l

(From Saturdays Advertiser.)
The above resolution was, after AM
extended discussion of its merits, adopt
ed yesterday afternoon by the Mer-
chants Association, in accordance with
the suggestion made last week by Geo
w. Smith, who, yesterday introduced
the resolution.
The resolution, of course, is merely
advisory. 1t binds no one to anything,
in fact, could not do so, as the asso-
citation has no authority over its mem
bers, But it puts the matter up toI
each merchant to consider for himself
and pass upon independently. Each
man must act as his business instinct
and Judgment dictate.
The matter first came up yesterday
when President Waldron called for the
report of the public affairs committee
on later closing. G. w. Smith made
the report, stating that the question
had caused considerable discussion and
some hard feeling, as if an attempt
were being made to force the merchants
TO adopt the later closing plan. This,
he said, would be impossible, as the
association had no authority to force
the merchants to do anything.
"The idea was not original with
me.D stated Mr.. Smith. 1.-The sug-
gestion came from an officer of the
United States Army, and is intended
to benefit both the merchants and the
soldiers
Profit for orientals.
Mr.. Smith made the statement that
the sum of $23,344S is paid out to the
bn
Most of this money, he said, is spent
in Honolulu, not over ten per cent of
il being sent to the States. Most of
it, under, present conditions, is spent
with oriental storekeepers, because the
enlisted men have no opportunity of
spending it in the American stores.
There are at present 1880 enlisted
men on Oahu, but large number more
are coming before great while, enough
so that within two years they will be
spending not less than $4,000 Il month
"With the exception of the honor
men, - said q. W. Smith, "the soldiers
40 not have town liberty until after
five clock in the afternoon. The men
from Leilehua can not get into town
before half past five o'clock under any
circumstances, and by that time all the
American stores are shut up.
''The idea of the resolution is that
if the Fort street merchants would
around pay days, keep open at night
the streets would be filed with pur
ehasers Every city on the mainland
that has a military post would see that
its places of business We're kept oper
on paydays and that the streets were
lighted.
alt is well enough to say that WI
nave work enough now, but that s oul
life, to work And | don't say tha
the whole force of store need be OF
every night. Shifts could be put on
a part of the force-and they coult
alternate,
A New Honolulu.
"Conditions are changed in Honolulu
and they are going to continue
change. With the opening the Par
ANA Canal, the putting ON of an il
creased number of steamships and a
increase in the number of the troop
stationed here, Honolulu is going TO b
a new city. 1t would seem that bus
ness acumen alone would indicate tina
We should keep our stores open q
night"
A Military Kick.
Mr.. Smith illustrated what he wa
saying by telling of twenty-five SO
diers who came into town few might
ago to get collection of ph0nograp
records. The stores where such thing
are sold We're closed and they had
90 back without them. On another o
easion, a short time ago twenty-l,
men came in from Leilehua, Each ma
has in bis pocket about s25. But wh'
they got here they could find no pla
90 spend ii, except the moving pictu
shows and the sal00gs, They went ha
aud reported the condition Of things
their officers and through their office
The matter was reporter 10 Mr. smi
as a member NJ the Ne, chanisi A.
einliuu. That Is Nhat directly lFouQ
up The early closing question
~ would like 10 zee resoluti
along these lines adopted not ln I
Nay ~ frightening anybody of ~
threat " hf Smith thfn offered
resolution with which ihis story utai
Continual raydays
Af smith siaied ihai ihsIe afu I
Iagdgyl month "a each ~ lba All
siailops hui Nlih ihf Inffeaff lu
nnmlfi ~ noppl ihfy Nlil cat,
ihipugt ihr maHfhl sn aYeisRf ~
Hneft
~ slf sR6H ~ haff hf miI,
faWnisfHf5 department lsfe a /
lhsef iglnilrf n lAf u9 q plll