Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1902 — Early Closing Works Well. [ARTICLE]

Early Closing Works Well.

Valparaiso Messenger. After a thorough trial in nearly all seasons, Valparaiso merchants are ready to pronounce the early closing system a success in every respect. The various lines of business were not altogether convinced when they began trial of early closing, and only the actual test could convince them -of its advantages. In fact, this was one of the last cities of any importance in the state to take up the movement. The larger cities tried it first, like Indianapolis, Terre Haute, etc., and it worked. The smaller places followed suit and it worked as well with them.

The benefits of the early closing system are general, Everybody is benfitted- The merchant sells no less goods, for experience in Vai paraiso has shown that the same amount of business is done in the course of the week. On the other hand they save light and other running expanses and have leisure time to spend at home or elsewhere. The clerks and employes are given shorter hours and do better work in consequence. There is no good reason why a business man or his assistants should work longer or be treated less fairly than the factory employes or railroad jnen. Two nights of the week a wise exception is made and the stores are kept open to benefit the country trade and the Saturday night late buyer. But so far as the other four nights of the week are concerned, a suggestion to return to the old order of things would meet the positive resentment of business people aud general public alike.