Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1919 — LETTERS FROM OUR READERS [ARTICLE]

LETTERS FROM OUR READERS

Saturday Night’s Closing Hours Is Up To the Merchants Themselves. F. E. Babcock, Editor Jasper Co. Democrat. Dear Mr. Babcock: —1 read with surprise the * conditions still existing in Rensselaer relative to the Saturday night closing of stores, and regreZ to see your Sunday services having to be given over to the subject of Saturday night closing. I admire your minuter who has' the courage to fight for the betterment of this condition amd has the civic pride that goes with 20th Century progress. I recall working in Rensselaer store® some 15 years ago and know well the habits of the Saturday night closing, also remember that a Wednesday night band concert called the clerk for an extra nights work at the store rather than enjoying the concert. Also the long, weary wait, keeping company with an empty egg case or an empty butter jar, left by some good farmer until he was ready to hitch up old Dobbin and wend his weary way homeward. But I note the wonderful progress of Jasper county—fine roads and everybody and bls uncle have automobiles, making shopping a sport to what it was in my day in Rensselaer. Then many farmers were comipelled to haul wood ofttimes and over sand hills or marshes many miles and curbstone bis load until very late before finding a buyer. But conditions are not so today. * Rensselaer’s closing conditions is a matter of the merchant entirely. We operate a store in a Palouse town, one of the greatest wheat sections in the United States, where everything is done with tractors, combined harvesters and such, where time om the ranch means much to the rancher. Still our stores all close at 6 o’clock week days and 9 o’clock sharp Saturday nights. Our store could not close a| 9» o’clock successfully without the co-opera-tion of the other 10 mercantile establishments, but we came together, found a common ground and find no difficulty in keeping these hours. And our sales are just as satisfactory. I have charge of one of our stores at Bovill, Idaho, in the heart of the white pine district and noted for I. W. W. activities. Two year's ago here it was thought impossible to make a success unless the .merchant kept open every evening until 9 o’clock, 11 o’clock Saturdays and all day Sunday. One good merchant sold out his business rather than longer keep open on Sundays. But today you find every merchant closing at 6 o’clock every week day and Saturday at 9 o’clock sharp. Our business comes from . the “lumber jack” who has no way of conveyance other than the railroad tracks leading to the njne logging camps. There is no question but there can be the correct hours of clos-

ing to Rensselaer If. the merchants get together. I am writing you this letter, telling you of my experience with the thought in mind of helping someone who may read it to find a little help on the subject of reasonable closing of stores on Saturday nights. Best wishes to you and all Jasper county friends. HERBERT G. SEE. State of Ohio, City of Toledo, Lucas County, ss. Frank J. Cheney makes oath that he is senior partner of the firm of F. J. Cheney & Co., doing business in the City of Toledo, County and State aforesaid, and that said firm will pay the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for each and every case of Catarrh that cannot be cured ,by the use of HALL'S CATARRH MEDICINE. . FRANK J. CHENEY. Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presence, this 6th day of December, A. D. 1886. A. W. GLEASON, (Seal) Notary Public. Hall’s Catarrh Medicine is taken internally and acts through the Blood on the Mucous Surfaces of the System. Send for testimonials, r rec F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. Sold by all druggists, 75c. Hall’s Family Pills for constipation.—Advt.