The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-05-27
MERCHANTS TO AID
N. Big ton
AL Bemidji Business Houses to Con-
tribute Equally for July Fourth
Programme Committee to Canvass
CLERKS WANT SHORT HOURS
Present Petition to Association Re-
questing Summer Evening Closing
Consumers Being Benefited.

largest meetings ever held by the
Merchants association of this city,
took place at the Commercial club
rooms Tuesday afternoon at O'Clock
at which time petition Of the clerks
was presented; Fourth of July cele-
bration discussed and the summer
evening closing of stores taken up.
The petition presented by the
clerks of this city was as follows:
s'To: the Retail Merchants of Be-
midi, Minnesota: We, the under
signed, clerks of the retail merchants
Of the city of Bemidji, hereby re-
specially petition our respective en-
ployers, retail merchants of the city
of Bemidji, to forth with begin clos
ing their places of business each day
at O'Clock p. NJ, save and except
ing Saturdays, such closing regula-
tions to continue during the summer
months. (Signed) S. T. Stewart, v.
A. Stewart, John Gainey, D: s. Gould,
Albert Halvorson, Irma Krause, L. M.
Erickson, Fred H. Fraser, Chas. T..
Gould, L. E. Taber, Mrs. Effie Muir
ray, Sadie Genrich, Arthur Akerberg,
Clyde Petrie, J. F. Essler, Esther
Tennstrom, c. E. Redberg, o. Larson,
George Armstrong, John De Rushia,
Edward Odegard, G: N. Heiren, Ar
thur Cune, Jennie Kittleson, G.. L.
Markham, John G. Tennstrom, G. B.
Stewart, C. A. Snyder, j. A. Breen,
F. w. Schroeder, Elmer .Kittleson,
Floyd Morgan, Fred Breen.'' -. .~:&-
-' All Stores To Close. ;.
After considerable discussion, the
merchants decided to get up sim
liar petition and pass it through the
city for signatures The committee
appointed comprises T. X Given,
Chairman, Charles Cominsky and K.
X. Roe. 1t is believed that if the
merchants association unanimously
adopt the closing proposition for the
summer months that the outlying
smaller stores, who are not members
of the association, can be induced to
do the same. The committee will re-
port at the next meeting, which will
be held at the Commercial club
rooms Tuesday, June 2.
To Celebrate Fourth.
The Fourth Of July celebration
was brought up for discussion and
arguments for and against were
heard. The merchants finally agreed
to support the celebration, provided
that all lines of business, including
saloons, restaurants and hotels con-
tribute equally for the cause. The
committee appointed for the raising
of funds consists of Eugene Ber-
man, chairman, George r. Baker and
Frank. Koors. They were instructed
to canvass the city this week and re-
port the progress made at the next
meeting. IL
Work Appreciated.
That the work of the association
is being appreciated by it's members
was brought out emphatically by the
action taken by the donation CON-
mittee on. the green trading stamp
proposition and the. Shetland pony
prize offer. The first deal, if taken
on by the merchants, would have
cost them from 2 to 3 per cent on the
volume of business done, which
would necessarily come out of the
pockets of the consumers and which
would amount to several Thousand
dollars each year.
The Shetland pony offer required
that each merchant pay from $40 to
$50 for the prize and for the con.
Quoting of the campaign. The mer-
chants were asked to give out tick
cts with each purchase for which
votes would he issued and the boy. OF
girl securing the highest number OF
votes would receive the first prize
| and the second highest prize, etc.
! Benefits Consumer.
| Had this campaign been permitted
in Bemidji, it would necessarily have
come out of the pockets of the con.
sumers. The merchants believed
that they should be given this, money
! in merchandise direct and acted &C