The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-06-03

through lack OF trade is the argu-
ment
Secretary Wreford. OF the retail
merchants bureau. has learned that
in Rhode Island, legislation is planned
which will make Saturday evening
closing statewide. This is TO be ac-
complished by limiting the number
of hours in which retail employees may
work, in such a manner that Saturday
evening opening will be impossible.
One strong argument being used
on store proprietors and on the pub
lie is the fact that suburban buyers
who make their purchases in the city
90 their shopping in daylight Few
suburbanites spend their Saturday
evenings In the stores.
IF the suburban residents can do
their shopping in the morning and
afternoon how much better can resi-
dents of Detroit afford TO do theirs
In daylight" is the argument drawn
from this fact.
The merchants who have been add.
ed TO the >SQnor roll are highly
pleased with the results Of their de.
cisions TO close at 6 o'clock Satur-
days.
I'VE find that our Saturday morn
ing business has doubled" said one
merchant. I'VE have always had
enough 10 do In the afternoon, but
we are very tickled TO see that our
slack time. Saturday mornings, is be-
ing filed"
Il. IIimelhoch, OF Himelhoch Bros.
& CO., says: I'VE realize fully that
this is an age OF business greed We
likewise realize that there is more in
the life of the merchant than the
mere buying and selling OF merchan-
disc and the payment OF salaries. The
merchant with a soul and character
must take a personal interest in his
employees to the extent that what he
does shall be conducive to their
health and happiness. Perhaps we
are arguing for the ideal but ideals
OF this particular kind are by no
means impossible. and we feel that
this closing movement is one of the
first steps. IL is inconceivable to us
that any merchant finds 1t unfeasible
or nnwise TO do this much for his
employees. This store viii continue
TO close every Saturday at 6 o'clock"
Letters were sent out, Wednesday,
TO the various civic organizations on
the west side, asking them to con-
slider the Saturday evening closing
movement in their next meetings and.
II possible, TO indorse IT,
The Detroit Federation OF Labor
will also be asked to indorse the
movement Speaking Of the relation
OF labor to the movement, K. j.
Hickey. chairman or the retail mer-
chants bureau, says:
Saturday night closing In Detroit
has passed beyond the doubtful and
experimental stage. IL is an estab-
lished fact and Detroit Is no longer
known throughout the country as a
Saturday night town. But in pass.
ing through this first stage. Il has
learned that the very people who
have made IL difficult for those mer.
chants who were I'm favor OF the
movement are the last ones on earth
who should stand in the way-the la
boring class.
Detroit merchants are voluntarily
giving to their employees the very
thing which organized labor has
fought for and .won-shorter 1ours.
Then why should the laboring man
and his family be SO reluctant about
giving up Saturday night shopping
II they are TO believe their own lead
Sers. they should be ready to fight for
better conditions for their fellow.
men.
LET this be an appeal to every
union man---every laborer-to stand
by the great mass o. employees who
will be benefited by permanent Sat.
urday night closing. BY refusing 70
make purchases anywhere after