Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-03
OBSERVING ARMIsr1cE DAY

Arnllstice DAY Inns year tails on Saturday, a day
generally regarded inconvenient for public celebra-
tons Of any kind. By common consent, Armistice
day IN this country is observed by exercises de-
voted especially to the inculcation of the highest
ideals OF. citizenship-those ideals for which the
word American" has come to be accepted as a
symbol-and the programs in connection Herewith
are arranged and supervised by groups of ex-service
men. 1t is desirable that the entire community
shall participate in these exercises, and if this is to
be done there must be a general cessation of bust
ness at least during the period of the exercises.
Where the day falls on any other week day the
suspension OF business and the closing of all bust
ness places for the entire day can usually be ar
ranged with little inconvenience. But in the aver
age American city Saturday is the busiest day of the
week, and merchants and others are accustomed to
make special provision for the business of that day.
The closing of business houses all day on Saturday,
under the conditions which ordinarily prevail, would
deprive merchants and others of trade for which
they have prepared. and which they have a right to
expect. 1t would, moreover, be a decided incon-
|venience to their customers, especially those from
the rural districts, who are accustomed to visit the
towns on Saturday for their weeks trading, and who
cannot conveniently arrange their affairs so as to
change that practice.
The decision reached by the Merchants Credit
ASSOCIATION OF Grand Forks seems to meet the re-
q%uirenents of the case as we'll as is possible. The
recommendation Of the association is that all ex-
service. men employed in the city be given the entire
day on Saturday in, order that they may participate
freely in all the exercises of the day of whatever
nature; and that all business establishments be clos
ed between the hours of go and s p. M, so that
all persons may be at liberty to attend the public
exercises at the auditorium from 8 to S.
That arrangement, it seems, should be thorough
ly satisfactory. To make it really effective it should
be understood that the closing suggested during the
limited time named applies to all business places
of whatever size or nature. For two hours and a
half let the closing be absolute, including not only
the principal stores, but cigar stores, refreshmcnt
places, ofices-everything. Then NO one will be
deriving a profit from the little trade which he
might pick up by reason of others having closed
for a patriotic purpose. Still further, let the owners
and managers of every business urge their employees
to spend the time set apart in attendance on the
patriotic exercises of the afternoon, f~ortifying their
|exhortations by their own personal example.
Some day, perhaps, a way may be found to fill
the entire day with programs devoted solely to. the
one purpose'of intoxicating the principles of Ameri-
canism. When that day comes, if it does, no day
can be too busy and none too sacred, to be devoted
entirely to that purpose. For the time being, it is
possible to provide for the needs of the occasion in
the way suggested, and if the right spirit prevails,
we may have on Saturday, November ii, although
only a part Of the afternoon is formally set aside for
that purpose, the best and most beneficial Armistice
day that this city has yet seen.