Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-08-04
co NJ NJ E R CIALISM
HOW IT CONSERVES THE PEO-
PLE'S MORALS.
A One.Sided Demand-Dishonesty of
Employers - Teaching Dishon.
esty-A Milli0naire'S Ad.
Nice-DOn't Criticize
the Boss.

y GIt luOuSlllul SUUuell Ol our
modern business life, as well as the
practical philosopher, the frequency
of cases of embezzlement, breach of
trust, defalcations, and hundred
other crimes, is startling.
A very large majority of the office
boys in the business houses in this
country enter upon their career be-
tween the ages of fourteen and sew
enteen. These positions are gener-
ally obtained by watching the
Want columns of the newspapers
and answering the advertisements
therein. Usually the applicant is
required to live with his parents and
to :" come well recommended"
But did it ever occur to you that
this is very one-sided affair? If
your boy can furnish the very high
est credentials of his character and
fitness for the position, why, pray,
would it be so very absurd to ask
the merchant who is to employ him
to produce his certificate of charac-
ter also?
Herein lies one great secret of the
cause of fraud and defalcation in the
business community, namely: The
dishonesty Of employers. In start
ing your son upon his career, do you
consider it matter of transcendent
Importance that his employer should
be, first Of all, al honest man: And
yet, how many Of you take the
trouble to inquire into this matter
at all, or even to accompany your
sons on the occasion of their first IN
teryiew with the employer?
| firmly believe that more than
one-half of the defalcations and
breaches of trust among clerks are
caused by the silent teachings of dis
honest merchants. | do not mean
to excuse the clerks who permit
themselves to be influenced by such
teachings, but | wish to give the
first blame where it belongs, and in
melting out punishment to the Of
fender ideal justice would consign
them both to the penitentEry
Some time ago a case like this 0c-
Cured: A clerk was instructed by
his employer to render All account of
sales Of goods sold on commission at
price less than that at which they
had actually been sold. With rare
cou' u'age he refused to do it, and con-
suited certain millionaire as to
what were his duties under the cir
CumstanCes.
Mark::the result, as an evidence of
the present low business morals: The
millionaire told him he was wrong,
and that he should not criticize the
morals of his employer, but obey
orders. Fortunately, in this instance
the young mans conscience was
stronger than his fear of a million
aires disapprobation, and he gave
up his position. The employers
comment was that " he was too
good for the world.'
Many similar things initiate
against the moral growth of the
young clerk. Everybody must de-
plore the morality that permits false
weights and false prices; that puts a
three-pound label on a forty-two-
pound package; that sells fifty per
cent. Of spoiled flour and worse than
spoiled buckwheat as pure mus
tard and pure pepper; that laughs
at the sharp trick Of false weights
inserted in bills of lading to defraud
the railroad and steamship compan-
les; that appIaudS the successful
bribery of a Custom-House exam
iner of dutlable goods; that chuckles
at the clever imitation of cOmpeti-
tors trade mark; that twists and
turns and prevaricates to avoid the
payment of taxes justly due the COM
monwealth for Its blessings of lib
erty and protection: that does, in
word, everything that is low and de-
grading, and nothing that is fair