The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-29
JEWELLERS ID CLOSE
 AT NOON SATURDAY
Agreement Signed Up and
 Others Expected to Follow
THURSDAY IS OPPOSED
Joseph Thompson States Closing on Thursday Afternoon Is Coun- trified Idea With Many
 Harmful Results

1 Six of the biggest and most inf1uen- tial jewelry firms in Birmingham have signed an agreement to close their on Saturday at o'clock. Moreover, they will not close on Thursday after noon, a plan which has been sponsored by some merchants in other lines of
 business. The further statement Is made that the jewellers are prepared to close at noon on Saturdays next year, if that plan can be worked out. l The firm that will keep open on Thursday, but which will close at 6 o'clock on Saturday include the Her zog- Thompson company. Frank NJ.
 Lynch lobe Rose Jewelry company, r.
 w. Bnomberg company. Linnehan Jew ieiry company, and the Jaffe Jewelry company.
 1 Tn plan to close on Saturday at 6 o'clock was brought to a rapid conclus- lon following conference of the jew eiers when the interview of Felix M. Drennen on this subject was read. Joe Thompson of Herzog- Thompson conferred with Frank NJ. Lynch, who agreed readily and there followed a signing of the agreement 1t is stated that Mr. Bromberg preferred to close even at l o'clock on Saturday. but this plan was preserved until next year when it is believed it will be success fully put into effect here.
 l Joseph Thompson. who gave out the plan of the jewellery firms made this statement:
 T know from personal experience thai tba in this community would prefer the few hours on Saturday night to the five hours that are to be given on
 Thursday by local merchants. They dread the grind on Saturday night rom the beginning of the weeks work on Monday until it finally climbs upon them. As for our firm, We will not un- der any circumstances subscribe to the Thursday closing idea. The reason Is that IL Is unquestionably urban. and makes Birmingham appear to we'll In : formed visitors in the light of coun- try phase. 1t is a great hardship on out-of-town people to deny them the right to buy goods on whatever day suits them 10 visit Birmingham and 1t Is also wrong to disappoint travellers who may happen in here on Thursday.
 "it is quite different with Saturdays Tn Atlanta, Louisville, New York and New Orleans and many other cities II Is custom not to remain open later than o'clock on Saturday, l know a great many firms in New York that remain closed all day Saturday That Is what the local merchants should do It Is wrong to give five hours to the hard worked boys and girls of these stores and 1nfold oneself in a self se- ceured cloak of charity. It appears to me that 1t should be illegal and against the law to work shop people from 7:45 O clock every Saturday morning until lO:15 at night. By the time they get home. the employees are utterly worn out and many do not get up until noon on Sunday It occurs to me that if the ministers of this city would take up this fight they would do more good by getting persons who need counsel to church on Sunday. than they ever will in this prohibition propaganda they are sponsoring.
 Imagine a wrapper girl 12 or 16 years of age. going home at 1 l o'clock at night to Fariview or Woodlawn or East Lake or West End and all the while her parents or his parents as the case may be, are up waiting for the slip of boy or girl to sound the bell It is wrong and should be corrected.
 q am informed that there is a good woman in this city who has a petition signed by over 40,0U0 persons who promise in that petition not to buy goods on Saturday nights. I hope thar number wild go up to 1o0. 900 or more I fully agree with Felix Drennen about this closing with the exception of the Thursday plan. I will be willing to give half of Saturday every day Tn the year if this ie determined upon In the meantime we will close at 6 o'clock on Saturday hereafter, but we will not be closed on Thursday after noons
 It is understood that in connection with the suggestion of MT. Drennen made last week, that a movement will be initiated this morning with the purpose in view of closing other kinds of stnres at 6 o'clncl every Safllrdax