Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-10-01
DECIDE AGAINST CHANGE
Of FIELD DAY DATE

! About rs Of the local business men
got together Tuesday morning to
talk over the closing of the stores
and manufacturing places. After an
earnest discussion they voted to close
on Wednesday, Oct s, the date set
for the fair benefit and that being
agreeable to all, all stores and places
Of business will close at II o'clock
noon on that date and remain closed
during the afternoon. Sam Freeman
presided.
One Of the local manufacturers,
Frank Smith, of the Hathaway shirt
factory, stated that the merchants
had always had their way in closing,
and that any Wednesday afternoon
of any day during the week when a
celebration or any kind Of an event
was scheduled, the manufacturers
were asked to close. He stated that
he personally would be willing to do
anything that the rest did, only that
he thought that some time the mer-
chants should sacrifice their business
eAhN SASCo ooAA4C t4AuC VII odtuIudy,
when all the manufacturing plants
were closed. Then the loss, if any,
would be for the merchants. He stat
ed that one does not realize what it
means to close a big manufacturing
business where from 1900 to 1000 peo-
pie are employed, for there are al
ways those few people who need the
money and do not like the idea of
closing afternoons and losing their
pay when on Saturday they would be
mare than willing to remain in the
city and spend their money for any
event, if they earned it, but what
they don't earn, they can't spend. He
said it means that the fire would
run in the morning as usual and that
all the machinery must operate in
the morning and that in closing in
the afternoon a great loss is entailed
both for the manufacturers and their
employees
Harry s. Brown was called upon
to express his feeling toward the
matter. Mr.. Brown said that he
personally did not see any reason
why the dry goods stores could not
close for a Saturday afternoon, and
that, speaking about the future. he
close either at noon Saturday, or at
6 o'clock. He said that in other
places this was done, and he did not
see any reason why it could not be
done in Waterville, if the public was
educated up to the fact that the
stores would remain closed either in
the afternoon or evening. just which
the merchants saw fit. This brought
up an argument, and it was discus
sed by several Of the men. Some OF
them thought that it could be done.
and that it should be done. while
others stated that it would never
prove satisfactory in this community.
However after a heated discussion
about the matter, it was stated by a
member of the Central Maine Fair
committee that the printing was al
ready out for Wednesday, October
8th, and that 1t would not be very
easy for the date to be changed. at
this late date. and vote was taken.
everyone being strongly in favor Of
having 1t on the chosen date. In the
future the merchants promised Mr..
Smith and his fellow manufacturers
that they would be considered in the
matter, and have a say, for Mr.,
Smith very kindly said that he would
close on this date. and that he was
sure that the other manufacturing
places would close. the benefit being
for such a good cause.
The advertising men are working
for the benefit field day In all the
cities and towns nearby and, If the
weather permits. Wednesday, Octob-
err 9Th. will be one Of the biggest
days that Waterville will have noted
in htat0rv