Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-23
EMPLOYER AND CLERK.
WHAT THEY OWE TO EACH OTHER
As A MATTER or DUTY.

| How the Merchans Should Ende@sse to
Direct the Lives Of His Hesp-ran with
Representative Dry Goods Man-There
Is No Need for Spies.
The relations that should exist between
clerks and their employers Is question Of
vital Importance snd one which, in practice
| II not In theory, finds many conffic&ing an
swerS Is it not possible for employers, while
| they jeaiously guard their own interests, TO
| render the most substantial service TO their
help n directing, guiding. and stimulating
their hvess These are but a few OF the cues
tons that are suggested as showing tia inn
portance Of the subject
1T is, 1 think, q self evident fact" said s
L MacLeish, OF the firm OF Charles Gosage
& Co, that whatever tends TO Stimulate an
employees interest. sober bis habits, or in
form bis mind viii ultimately BE- no less
benefit to his employer than TO him Moss
business men realize this and ara only too
glad to do what they can 20 rphft the moral
and intellectual status OF those they employ.
The question is, however, how can this super
vision and influence best be extended beyond
business hoursi
CLUB ORGANIZATIONS yor NECESSARY
Personally, don't see how clerks viii b
materially benefited By Organizations, asso-
Citations, gymnasis, and that sort OF institu-
tons, even though they were provided e.
pecially Tor their usa. There are now ins1i-
tutions of that character which clerks could
patronize did they choose 20. The fact Is
that when business hoursere closed employees
are only too glad 20 gse out nd-enjoy what
may he called a little abandon, and eprrc-
bend that were a clerks association or library
or gymnasium providefit would be well pa
tronised for \ tnne, and then almost for
gotten
What Is more, that which hiss proved
serviceable in one place VIII not work in
another The conditions are different Ia
England there are many boarding and Lis,-
ing PLACES and weal Stocked libraries con-
nected with business houses, but there It b
the castoIn to board and lodge in fhosnorss,
custom that probably grew out q IRE long
hours Of service required The plan would
be a failure here n instituted for fhcchrks'
benefit, end is Is scarcely practicable TO take
English customs as Suggestions for American
enterprise.
"In France they have something skin TO
profit sharing as a stimulus to clerks. Tho
difficulty with that plan IS chat clerks become
too aggressive and otficiocs to patrc1rs and
for the sake of cltrrying favor and making a
good reputationwith prouriutors they become
30 soiicitous as 10 give otfense and drive
away custom Most s,orekeepers in this city,
think, would find itcbeaper 70 givo a mini
mum sllary plus a hbcrd commission on
actual sales, but rs applied 20 clerks / am
satisfied that the scheme wouhi develop xeal
and faithfulneSs and NJ the same sime kill
trade.
THE INFLUENCE OF EXAMPLE
"As regard tho matter / 30 practically
only one way for employers 10 exert II salu-
tary influence on the body Of clerks under
them. mean 30 set good examples and
be rigid IN requiring those examples 10 be
followed That many propr1etors, snpcrin-
tendents and managers are slack in this re-
gard beiieve TO be n fnct. Efficiency "a q
salesman OF "a saleswomnn is too often Inasis
al excuse for brooking moral detinqoencies,
and the Inevitable result of bad example il
overlooked
II have been in business lonyenough %
know that single blnck sheep IN a great
business house Is enough TO contaninato and
lower the moral tone of many employees II
a proprietor or floor manager Is known TO
gamble, speculate, visit Questionable places
or otherwise deport himself as hc should not,
it win inevitably produce n dernoraliziuz
effnst on the force Of clerks have seen 10
exempsifled time and time again, and know
am right ia saying that tho most prurni-
pent lever a gtorekesper can use 90 elevate
the moral tone of his employees Is 10 have
none but men and women Of known honor,
integrity and fair Judgment suporintend-
ents or managers
''Thsn think store keepers should bocarr-
fui 20 ascertain much possible II The
antecedeslts tho abode, tho methods OF life
aud the associates of his help. Tho common
allegation that tbcro are 1lalo and female
clerks Of doubtful morals b. the employ Of
business establishments localities has rSgns
ground Of truth, and 10 beboovcs every
reputable house % wosi ont rstDoreolasssly
every esnploye whose ilfe Is known or res.son.
ably supposed 90 hc Off color. IL b "a dufy h.
owes TO himself, ard especially o tho hons
clerks h bis eyupioy 1t Is his rsght-to inter
fere with The hfe VI bis clerks IN - far ~
they are not calculated % cast credit on the
store or % be healthful to-fhc morale Of bis
force.
no Use FOs SPIES
"T-hero Is one thing. ho-rcver, that depre
cate, and that issysteu1stso esyJiu<rsp,e. Il "a
not necessary 10 resort % this 10 know Tho
practices and rssortsof employee They are
bond to crup out in ore form or another. 4
single case Of POPULATION, urItruttfihuezs,
gambling OF moral delinquency sIasIrnarily
dispossd of--and sou may b. suro that when
this done, IL stSe fault be not made kno~r
in the store, cbs Other esapluyos ssD rraks
ssrrr.f gnesses--wia b. rsoro elective as =
deterrent and cozTDct1ve nDsssuro than any
othersplan thu. could bs followed b. kepp a
force Of clerks as straight Il life as tbry
shogia ba Chris eaou'd feel fhat n1ey are
trusted--,ot watctsei, hatprutou ttkar horyr.
They s,o1k fssl, too that sEpsst1r tr1ss.li-
gence and astcioDcy are rvvg.asssi ard APP
tJrectassd and tsaat fais,If1lTs<s ooEntfnad
Nth honesty aDjcsratiItty vii bs~s~ardsf
This h 10 dad scherns as al, but one noe IN
lractioe IA n5ofe seores than Gle II Cfocago,
and believe is u the oulT pr-sfSz2is oourrs
for store ksepcrs % sab>x q rysT wars %
szsr-ise any d-ckirs ssAlrtuy txftas-yoe On
clerks $40 tcty.
'Pssilanftgopy 10 ofszo k,lnrn Of it, hx<.re-
x.1ife and 1zge OBS rsCre e<fac.<-s rrsuz to