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Show I HALF HOLIDAY EACH WEEK FOR EMPLOYES IN OGDEN BUSINESS HOUSES URGED BY MERCHANT HERE Mayor Francis is In receipt o a letter let-ter this morning from Samuel A. Martin Mar-tin of the Firm of Paine & Hurst, Inc., urging a weekly halfday holiday for Btoro employes. The matter has been submitted by Mr. Martin to the attention of Miss Stewart, secretary of the Merchants' Credit Bureau. Mr. Martin argues that a weekly halt holiday is called for In the interests of the health of the workers; work-ers; in the Interests of increased trade and has a beneficial effect on improving improv-ing the good feeling that ought to ox-V?t ox-V?t between employer and employe; Is for the betterment of the homes of the workers; promotes 'the hotter observance ob-servance of Sunday; and because it lifts daily work from the sphern of drudgery to the plain of real service. Ills le'tter: "Miss Margaret Stewart, Secretary, "Rotall Merchants' of Ogden, "Ogden. Utah. "Dear Miss Stewart: "I beg leavo to place before your organization of Retail Merchants also tho Chamber of Commerce, a few reasons rea-sons why we should advocate legislation legisla-tion which will give our local authorl-: lies powr to enforce a weekly half- 'day closing of all stores, other than' those conducted for the purpose off serving refreshments or drugs. "For thiry years, I lmve been closely associated with business where this, weekly half-day closing has been en-; .forced to very great advantage; ten, years as an employe, and twenty years j las an employer, and I have had the opportunity to observe the evidences, of appreciation from all concerned: from vnrious aspects. "First Because the weekly half-day1 closing is conducive to better health ol all Indoor workers, and will bring about greater efficiency. "Second Decause the weekly half-day half-day closing Is conducive to increased trado in all branches, owing to the. fact that personal requirements arej increased through ihe opportunity for; wear and tear. ' j "Frequently the morning hours wil bring two-thirds of a normal day's j trading. For instance, the grocer is .needed for the lunch basket, the do-! partment stores for many other sun-j 'dries for the family outJng, the hardware, hard-ware, for tho many sundries for the' .chores around the home, In repairs,' t etc. j "Third It is conducive to cult'.vat-j ing good spirit between employe and employer. It offors opportunity for! tho occasional 'get-together' outings. I It gives tho employe a keener interest' in his work, it makes him feel thati God intended some of the beautiful! sunshine for his enjoyment and bless-j ; ing. as well as the farmer, and that J his lot is not fcr constant confinement! j daring tho whole week, and that his : ' existence is divisible by more than! (two, and that he may enjoy a time for! I work, a time for social and mental de- ' velopment. a time for pleasure, a lime j for worship. j "Fourth The half-day closing Is a great factor in the Tamily home life, when parents can join with their children chi-ldren in a quiet affernoon oulihg. mlng-i mlng-i ling in their games and life, all ofi which is important in the proper control con-trol of home life and best principles J or good citizenship. ! "Fifth The weekly half-day closing is conducive to the better observance of the Sabbatli day, the obsen'ance of which carries many great and precious promises, whereas now, many of thej young people feel no compunction in ; making it. a day of pleasure, Instead of worship, and In a measure they are' excusable, for reasons, which are. remediable. "Many others feel that it is a day1 for chores around the home, and fo doing the weekly house cleaning, mending, and preparing clothes for tho coming week's business. Others again, who are engaged in religious duties at least three evenings of the week, besides be-sides teaching Sunday school, are forced forc-ed to work to midnight hoirs, or allow many of their personal requirements to fall up the shoulders or our already burdened mothers, and these strenuous strenu-ous daily requirements have proven to be the hotbeds of social and political unrest, which the world is suffering today. "Sixth Wo should observe tho weekly half-day closing,- because it Is continued advancement in business economies, from the drudgery of those days, when business men thought it was inimical to their Interest to close their store, while anyone else was sup-: sup-: posed to bo out of bed and their help jwas expected to consider themselves fortunate and amongst the privileged , to have work that confined them to in-dofirs, in-dofirs, and for such privilege three to jSix years were, frequently required for , the apprenticeship. But even the pros-jent pros-jent poorly advanced conditions have i proven, beyond all doubt, to the wide j awake merchants of leading cities, the fallacy of such notions, by seeing that he more leisure given to the millions i of workers, greater demands have ! been created and greater prosperity to all concerned. "The rime has arrived when we must awake to the fact that commerce and pleasure has been, and 'is still controlling con-trolling the forces of humanity, whereas, where-as, It is humanity's duty and sacred .privilege to control and govern com-merce com-merce and pleasure, which can be ;done by wise local legislation when j most troubles have their birth and growth, and not wait for the baby troubles to grow to an unwieldy and uncontrollable national or internalion-al internalion-al giant. "Labor has been compelled to organize, organ-ize, and will have to ontlnue to do so, because of our weakness in handling hand-ling these little essentials which go to create contentment and bless the1 masses with safety and happiness. j "Their leaders' demands, often appear ap-pear to be extreme because they have' realized by the experiences of thou- sands of years' history, that uncontrolled uncon-trolled desires to accumulate power, and wealth has held the masses in I bondage, and their efforts for redress j has often disorganized international as well as national industries, which could have found a panacea in its; local infancy, and much trouble, distress dis-tress and bloodshed avoided. "And with the knowledge we may have or gain, of what has happened in the past, and tho evidence of a continuance con-tinuance for the future, when there a-e wrongs which need righting, and conditions Jhat canbp created and.ar. not treated" '!rof'"i'the Intellectual ad-1 ivancement and happiness of man j "I trust Ogden will be in the ranks of progress by deciding to give thei weekly half-day closing plan a general and generous trial, voluntarily, for thei coming summer months. "Yours, respectfully, I SAM'L MARTIN." |