ISHPEMING — The job of the store clerk in Ishpeming in 1899 was not easy. While the work was not as physically demanding or dangerous as the average miner, there were still problems.

“In the stores of the city, however, we find men and women going to their places behind the counter at six and seven in the morning and remaining there with but a short intermission for lunch until from eight to ten in the evening. There are many who are working from fourteen to fifteen hours a day, and working hard, for it is not an easy task to be upon one’s feet for that length of time day after day.” (Iron Ore, March 18, 1899)

This came at a time when miners were starting to get used to eight-hour workdays. “In these times we hear much of the struggle for an eight-hour day, and at the present time a majority of the miners in Ishpeming are given this time in which to complete a day’s labor. Ishpeming is one of the few cities in the country where such privilege is accorded by the mining companies.” (Iron Ore, March 18, 1899)

“It (the blame) rests much with the people who do the trading. It would be no difficult matter to arrange the business of buying so it could be done in a lesser number of hours than now. The permitting of orders to run until late in the day is merely carelessness, and largely the force of habit.” (Iron Ore, March, 18, 1899)

“The clerk is human and should be permitted to enjoy a little of the sunshine of life as well as other people.

“It would be no hardship to buy in eight hours what it now takes twelve to buy.” (Iron Ore, March 18, 1899)

“The merchants agreed that the present long clerk day was custom established by years of practice. People have grown accustomed to placing their orders with the merchant at any and all times of the day. Sometimes orders are sent in for deli very after supper, and the people who trade do not stop to consider the feelings of whose who serve them from behind the counters. If they did, they would be more considerate. “ (Iron Ore, March 25, 1899)

“As (the) Iron Ore remarked last week, in a town where the majority of men are working eight hours a day, it would seem that it ought to be easy to bring about a ten-hour day for the clerks.

Ten hours of steady work is enough for a day. In that time one can perform enough to make him tired and he can earn his salary.

If the people understood that they must get in their orders at a certain time they would learn to do so. The 8 o’clock closing has shown this. It is largely a matter of habit, the habit is a bad one and as such it should be broken.” (Iron Ore, March 25, 1899)

Of course, the Iron Ore only hinted at one of the real reasons for all this concern.

“They now have an organization for mutual welfare, and they should require of other organizations formed with a similar object in view, that they be assisted with the trade, which ought to be left at home and which is important in the keeping up of their wages. “ (Iron Ore, March 25. 1899)

“During the past few days circulars have been circulated by the members of the local branch of the Clerks’ National Protective association, containing a list of the holidays that the merchants are requested to observe.” (Mining Journal, March 25, 1899)

“The clerks will enjoy a full day’s vacation next Friday according to the new agreement and a half day will be had the following Monday. The association is getting in good shape and some very effective work is being done in the interests of its members. At the next meeting steps will be taken to bring about one of the greatest reforms that has yet been taken in the city.” (Mining Journal, March 25, 1899)

“During the past few weeks there has been considerable discussion among the clerks and the merchants of this city in regard to the practicality of a general 6 o’clock closing hour.

Several of the merchants expressed themselves in favor of a change in the present closing hour at the time when the petition providing for the holidays which will hereafter be observed was circulated and the whole body of clerks is naturally in favor of a reduction of the working hours.

The clerks’ union will endeavor to bring ab out the change at some near date and it looks as though its attempt will meet with success.

The clerks’ union is at present a well-organized and powerful body and it will undertake the work of obtaining names to the agreement in a systematic and effective way.” (Mining Journal, March 31, 1899)

The Retail Clerk’s Protective association was a national organization and connected with the American Federation of Labor.

“The hours which are observed at present are very long, longer a good deal than is necessary to transact the volume of business that is done.

Several of the leading merchants have already expressed themselves as favorable to the proposed change and it is not believed that any trouble will be experienced in getting the remainder into line.

There may be one or two objectors to the new arrangement but if the majority of the businessmen approved of the change there will be no doubt of the ultimate success of the plan.

The pressure of the clerks themselves and of popular opinion, which is very favorable to the change, will compel the objectors to fall in with the procession.” (Mining Journal, March 31, 1899)