The Red Cloud chief., 1886-03-05
THE CLERKS.

WATCHING THE CLERKS.
An Organization Formed to Ascertain
the Private Habits Of Employe.-TiP-
pliers and Gamblers to Bc Needed
Out"
The merchants Of Chicago are organ
ling a detective association TO learn
the private habits of their employees.
and propose TO weed out" gamblers
and tipplers. Ii may be- tina, such a
measure ha. become necessary, but we
can hardly believe that the large ma
jority II clerks are untrustworthy.
The end sought might perhaps be- ac-
compliShed at less expense and much
more satisfactorily by a combined ef-
fort on the part IF employers TO re-
move the temptations which bcsct their
clerks and providing for them innocent
recreation, Saturday half-holiday, etc.
But here i, what one Of the member,
say about the new organization:
The Sine has gone BY" said a Chi
cago merchant. when business men
could employ help Unfortunately, or
Eve kccj. men whom they have had in
positions of trust for years without
knowing more of them than acquaint-
ancc in the store or office can give.
Our confidence i So much abused and
cur pockets are 50 frequently riilcd that
We have c"mc To feel that protection i,
absolutely necessary. About the only
thing We receive which gives Us Il fay-
Orablc opinion Of a man when he APP
plies for work Is an introduction from
IA mutual friend or a letter Of recon-
mrndation: but the friend or the writer
If the letter rarely knows more Of the
mans real character than we do. and
the recommendations in reality testify
only to his :bility to do work. They
tell us nothing If the mans life after
business hourS-whether he passes it
in q respectable and honorable way.
or dcvotc> il Ia drinking and gambling.
An association is to be formed for the
purpose of probing into this thing.
1--WE think Of organizing Il detective
system for h purpose Of exercising
surveillance over our employees. The
number of ~disrcputable places in Chi
cago is not 50 large but that We Fan
secure IA pretty correct idea If a mans
habits without going To any very heavy
expense. was "A member Of such Il
society in New York. and it was of in
~calculablc benefit to me-. As an exam
Pile of its workings. let me show YOU
this brief report said III" gentleman.
displaying Il ruled. partially printed
blank. Ii read ~ follows:
To subscriber III: The person Of whom
,-Au. --.,-. - -, fH- $50
married. Has been in New York threc years.
ana bears a good character OFTEN visits
gambling houses. Drinks, but not to excess.
Lives cNpcn>Ivcly.'
This yLung man." continued the
merchant came Ia me with the very
highest recommendations. | wanted a
cashier. and should have employed
him had it not been for the report
from the protective society. You u
very readily understand why | did not
wish a man who fr%rqucnted gambling
houses. ever though so quietly that, his
friend, knew nothing Of it, handle my
money. Neither would | knowingly
employ Il man who drank. even if he
never did get drunk. This Young fell
low could not understand why | re-
fused his application. Many a trusted
smployc in New York at that time
wondered why his resignation WAS
asked for, or how his employer learned
that he occasionally played faro OF
went out with q conviyial party
But if a man is honest and faithful.
and attends strictly to business. do YOU
store it up against him that after bust
Ness hour, he CANDLES or drinks u lit
tlc?'
I'VE most as>urcdiy do. Among
business men the sentiment against
dissipation in employees is growing
stronger and stronger. The first thing
We ask now about a new man is: Does
he drink or gamble? and We purpose
answering these questions through the
new society. Experience has taught
Us that the reliable men-those most
20 be tru>.ed-a,e those who abstain
from whisky and cards. and venture
the assertion that ten years from now
the drinking MAJ will find difficulty in
securing any emplCyment-much less
a position of responsibility. A young
man may drink and gamble in modera-
ton for years and still attend 10 his
work. but he i sure tn come 10 grief. !
and his employers mus; suffer. We do
10; say that every drinking man and
every gambler shall he discharged. bu,
We are going Ia lind ont who of our
employees have bad habits. and YOU
MAY bc sure they will be given no posi-
ton Of trust or profit.
Il 10 not care - give YOU the namcs
Of any of the members of the new a>>o-
ciat;on- Suffice tn >ay tina: there viii
be ever tive hundred. that they include
many Of our principal business
ana that enough operatives will b. en-
ploycd TO keep u posted on what we
wish t. know.-chicrgo Cor. Miagc-
gcu.!s Com 1ls-cIGl Td-rffs. 4