The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-06-18
Social Workers of Duluth Head
Movement to Give Store En-
ployes Opportunity to Fit Them
selves for Sunday Relaxation

selves for Sunday Relaxation
waged in Duluth for Saturday half
holiday for the clerks employed in
the shops and stores of the Zenith
city.
prominent citizens whose names are
ever connected with any plan to uplift
benefit of their fellow men and wom-
en-.
The desire for half holiday for
the clerks in this city crystallized this
week in a meeting held at the Y M.
c. A. last Tuesday evening. presided
over by Dean Arthur Wurtele and
attended by Mrs. Perry Starkweather
and Miss Jean Poirier of the wom
ans department of the state labor
bureau, together with Representatives
of the big department stores and
merchandising institutions in the city.
1t was decided to conduct cam
paign of education and advertising
for the purpose of acquainting the
general public with the needs of tho
employees for more rest, and the en-
ployers with the feeling of the pur-
chasing public regarding the matter.
To this end a resolution was adopt
ed which will be presented to the
merchants and manufacturers of the
city recommending that all close their
esta blishments at / o'clock Saturdays
during the months of July and August.
Bishop James McGolrick was ap-
pointed with Rev. Mr.. Wurtele as as
sistant, to see the employers and get
them to act in accordance with the
resolution. Mr.. Wurtele and Miss
Poirier will! conduct the work Of in
vestigating the general feeling as to
the innovation ard Mrs. Boyington
will attend to the advertising.
The latter work will consist of get
ting printed cards with return ad-
dress on which the purchaser of goods
will be asked to express opinion as to
whether he. favors early closing OF
the stores one day week to give
the employees opportunity for outdoor
recreation.
These cards, if the permission of
w
placed in every outgoing parcel and
in this way It Is expected that, the
pulse of the buying public can be felt
and the merchants given some idea
Of how the citizens generally feel
about giving the clerks a half-holiday
cnce week during the summer.
A careful canvass of the various
trades unions of the city will be made
to determine the attitude of their
members in the matter.
Should it prove that there is feel
ing that the Saturday closing may
pr,ve g. detri.1ent to the working
classes 1t may deter friends of the
movement from proceeding further
with it.
1t is not expected, however, the
slightcs st opposition will be encoun-
tered from among the ranks of labor.
The educational committee will talk
wherever possible and will attempt
to get the Trades Assembly to back
the movement with their endorse
ment.
The Woman's Council has already
given it's endorsement.
The resolution in favor of the early
closing OIL Saturdays, which was
unanimously adopted, was as follows:
I'VE believe that in the interest of
humanity all stores should close at
1 o'clock on Saturday during the sum-
mer months and 1t has been shown
that the closing, instead Of inter-
fering with business would improve
commercial conditions. and
3 Further, that public and clerks
alike will appreciate the courtesy
shown employees and better service
Will be rendered by the latter and as
many purchases made by the former;
"Wherefore, be it resolved, that we
respectfully request that all patrons
Of Duluth stores and manufacturers
do their purchasing at some time
other than Saturday afternoon and
evening, and,
Further, that all storekeepers
owners of factories and proprietors
OF other commercial concerns. be re-
uuested to establish 1 o'clock as thet,
cl' sing hour on Saturdays. during the
months of July and August"