Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-03-04
WATCHING The CLERKS.
A Mercantile Association for Protect.
Ing Aga1nsi Fast-L1Vtng Employees.

''The time hrs gone by" said Chi
cago merchant, when business men
could employ help indiscriminately,
had in positions of trust for years
without knowing more of them than
acquaintance in the store Or Office can
give. Our confidence is SO nuch abus-
ed, and our pockets are so frequently
rifed that we have come to feel that
protection IS absolutely necessary.
About the only thing we receive
which gives us favorable opinion OF
man who applies for work is an In
PRODUCTION from mutual friend or a
letter of introduction but the friend
or the writer Of the letter rarely
knows more of the mans real charac-
ter than we do, and the recommends
tons In reality testify only to his
ability to do work. They tell us moth
ing of the mans life after business
hours-whether he passes it In re-
spectacle and honorable way or de-
votes it to drinking and gambling.
an association is to be formed for the
purpose Of probing into this thing.
eve think of organizing a detec-
tectlve system for the purpose of exer-
cising surveillance over our employ
es. The number of disreputable pla-
ces in Chicago is not so large but that
we can secure a pretty correct idea of
a mans habits without going to any
very heavy expense. I was member
OF such a society in New York, and it
was not of incalculable benefit to me.
AS an example of It's workings let me
show you THIS brief report" said the
gentleman, displaying a ruled, par
TALLY printed blank. It read as fol
lows:
''To Subscriber 297; The person of
whom you inquire Is about 26 years
old, unmarried. Has been in New
York three years, and bears a good
character Often visits gambling
houses. Drinks but not to excess.
Lives extensively.
This young man." continued the
merchant, ''came to me with the good
recommendations. I wanted a cash
Ter, and should have employed him
had it not been for the report from
the protective society. You can very
readily understand why I did not
| wish a man who frequented gambling
houses, even though SO quietly that
his friends knew nothing about it, to
handle my money. Neither would I
knowingly employ man who drank,
even if be never did get drunk. This
young fellow could not understand
why I refused his application. Many
trusted employe in New York st
that time wondered why his resigna-
ton was asked for or how his employ
er learned that he occasionally play
| ed faro or went out with convi1ial
party.
'But if a man is honest and faith,
full, and attends strictly to his bus,
mess, do you store it up against him
that after business hours he CANDLES
| or drinks littleG"
1--WE most assuredly do. Among
business people the sentiments against
| dissipation IN employees IS growing
stronger and stronger. The first thing
we ask about new man now is; Does
he drink Or gamble2 and we purpose
answering these questions through the
new society. Experience has taught
us that the reliable men-those most
| to be trusted-are those who abstain
from whisky and cards, and I venture
the assertion that ten years from now
the drinking men will find difficulty in
securing any employment much less
a position Of responsibility. A young
man may drink in moderation fo1
years and still attend to his Work,
but he is sure to come to grief, and
! his employers must suffer. We dc
| not say that every drinking man and
every gambler shall be discharged,
but we are going to find out who OF
our employees have bad habits, and
| you may be sure they will be given
no position Of trust or profit.
I do not care to give you the names
Of any of the members of the new
association. Suffice to say that there
will be over 200, that they include
many of our principal business men,
and that enough operatives will be
employed TO keep US posted on what
| we wish TO know"