Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1882-07-15
ABOUT "ABSENTEEISM.o

At half-past 10 o'clock last even.
Ing the publisher Of the TIMES, com
ing into his office, found on his desk
the following unsigned petulant out.
burst of some caller. The ink was
hardly dry, and the screcd had evi-
IDENTITY been written within the last
hour:
Absenteeism-The Curse of the
Country.-A habit prevails among
our business men ofloafing upon the
streets during business hours, which
surely will, if continued, result in
disaster to them. This ruinous habit
is particularly noticeable among the
newspaper fraternity. No longer ago
than last evening two gentlemen
called ut the office of our daily with
the view-etc.
A newspaper man being public
servant, the public has the right te
criticise his conduct, and the same
may be said of the business men
This much being admitted, let us to
the point. It is possible that some Of
our business men neglect their bust
ness to the extent Of loafng about
the streets during business hours,
but, as far as the publisher of the
TIMES is concerned, that charge
could not apply even if, by great good
luck, he could be on the streets
either loating or othcrwise-all the
time, or even half Of the time. For a
newspaper mans place, when not in
his Office, engaged in industriously
preparing his ''copy" for the waiting
printers, is certainly on the street or
in some place whore he is liable to
hear news or see something that may
interest the public. That is, as a rule,
and as applied to the profession in
general.
With the publisher of the DAILY
TINES, the case is different. The in
come of the paper not being sufficient
to permit him to hire what assistance
he should have, he is compelled to
attend to a great many matters which
consume great deal of time. In this
way, he must act us business mana =,
ger, reporter, editor, mailing clerk,
etc., and is compelled to work from
Is to 10 hours Il day. Take yester-
day, for instance. 1t was an unusu-
ally heavy day. The paper showed
that. Well, the publisher remained
at work in the office, with scarcely
FIVE minutes absence at a time, from
half-past o'clock in the morning
until 6 at night, when the city route
was sent out for delivery. a hasty
meal at the restaurant followed. Then
back to the Office, where the mail had
to be made up. About a quarter t.
8 o'clock the mail was taken to the
Postoliice. Then a gentleman who
came from Denver with letter of in
PRODUCTION, claimed the publishers
time until 1880 o'clock, when he re-
turned to the Office to keep an APP
pointment with a mining man, who
did not come-at least not at the tim,
stated time. At II O'Clock two pros
pectors called, also by appointment
and it was past midnight before tn,
publisher went to bed.
There was certainly no time los
by the publisher in floating on tn,
streets yesterday. And yet thi
was no exception to the rule. Tn
preceding day the publisher coul,
not get to bed before . o'clock, ow
ing to the county seat ball; and tn
night before, trip to Bullion hay
ing been made, to see about the start
ing-up of the new MayAower ma
chinery and to inspect the specimen
for the Exposition prior to their be
ing boxed up, it was nearly o'cloc
before the publisher went to bed.
The publisher of the TINES dt
votes every moment of his time t
his paper. This being the case,
is unreasonable to find fault wit
z him if be happens to be on the stree
occasionally, when he is expected /
be in hrs Office.