The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-09-11
Stores to Restore System of Keeping
Open Until Nine O'clock Saturdays

A communication was, on Saturday,
addressed to the Rev. P. A. Simpkin
and the committee of the Ladies Lit
erary club by number of the largest
mercantile establishments in Salt Lake
City respecting carly closing on Satur-
days. The communication announces the
intention Of the stores signatory of
keeping their places of business open
on Saturdays and on the days before
holidays until 8 o'clock, instead of clos
ing at the hours now prevailing. This
rule will be observed by the stores at
least until January /. The communica-
tion follows:
Salt Lake City. Sept .. 1910,
Rev. P, A. Simpkin and Committee OF La
dies Literary Club. City:
Dear Sir and LadieS-The undersigned
business houses were called upon by your
committee early last spring and requested
10 close their stores at o'clock Satur-
months at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoons.
Principally because OF your earnest solic-
itatlon and because we were willing TO
give the early-closing Saturday move
stores at o'clock since April of this
year and at l o'clock on Saturday after
moons during the heated months.
In support OF your request you told
us that the movement would be general,
that there was popular demand for
early Saturday closing all over the coun-
try. and that the stores OF Salt Lake City
ought TO fall In line; that the movement
had the support Of the laboring classes
that the retail clerks. particularly the
numerous women clerks employed in the
from the long Saturday hours and that
they would be benefited from the fact
that having half holiday on Saturday
they would have day and half which
that the clerks would be fully rested
and ready for work OIL Monday morn
inss,
You further strongly impressed upon
us the fact that II was necessary TO
have the larger stores lead in this move
ment and that when 1t was announced
that such stores would close their doors
at Saturday nights and at l o'clock
Saturday afternoons during the heated
months, that your committee, having the
support of the larger stores, would be
enabled within n reasonable time TO close
all the retail stores of the city at the
same hours. We were told that the move
ment was to cover all lines OF business,
and that there was no wish TO cause
any OF the stores agreeing TO close to
lose business on account OF other stores
remaining open. but that efforts would
be made to have all stores close.
We have consistently closed our stores
on Saturdays on the lines suggested by
your committee, notwithstanding the fact
that since IT was definitely known that
the larger stores would close aud did
close that the Saturday closing move
did not become general as we were as
sured it would be. Having given the
movement whole summers trial. we
desire TO say that so far as the under
signed stores are concerned. that we have
lived up to our agreement and that the
result, in consequence OF the movement
not becoming general has been satisfac-
tory neither TO our customers nor our
selves, and that therefore we feel JUS
tlhed In annulllng the arrangement for
Saturday closing.
Numerous customers, mostly laboring
people, have complained TO us because
they were unable TO do their shopping on
Saturday afternoons and evenings. that
being the most convenient time for hus-
band and wife 10 shop together. and be-
cause Saturday Is pay day with most
contractors and business houses in this
city.
Every one OF our businesses has suf-
fered financial loss through the diversion
Of Saturday afternoon and evening busi-
ness 10 stores which did remain open.
such loss Of busicnss TO our houses ex-
ceeding Sl5OOOo in volume The actual