The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-03-20
DIAMOND Statesmen.
Competent Men Hard TO Find Even 4
Princely Salaries.

Competent Men Hard TO Find Even 81
Princely Salaries.
ga thoroughly competent and thor
oughly equipped diamond salesman
said a leading importer of the valuable
stones, lis almost rs rare and valuable
as the diamond itself. l will say freely
to you now that if could find sales
man who filled all the requirements OF
the position, l would gladly pay him
salary of $4,000 or $4,000 per year
But it is difficult to find well equipped
salesman who has not some drawback
or fault. There is a man in my mind
now who is most valuable salesman,
is possessed of a thorough knowledge OF
diamonds, and his only fault is the fact
that he will get drunk. Now if this
man was strictly sober he could add
several thousand dollars yearly to
his salary. AS it, is, he draws
a large salary, and the house
which employs him would worry if
they thought there was any danger
of losing him. You can appreciate the
danger of employing man who is
addicted to drink as diamond sales.
man at once. You see we are forced by
the nature of our business to give such
a salesman when he goes out valua-
BILE lot of goods to sell. We can't sell
goods like other people. The buyer
must examine each one. Hence we are
forced to give man large and valua-
BILE stock of goods when he goes out to
visit our customers. Now, anyone
would naturally hesitate before he
gives man, who is addicted to drink, a
stock of goods worth from $4,000 to
$50, 1000 The firm who employs the
salesman to whom | refer thoroughly
realizes the danger, and SO does the
salesman himself. He knows his own
value, and he also knows his own habits.
I'm order to protect him when he
goes out with stock of goods man is
sent to accompany him. This man who
has nothing else in the world to do, al
ways watches the salesman and takes
care of his stock when he gets drunk.
He receives a salary of 81, 200 a year and
has all of his expenses paid. Of course,
this man is of really no value except as
guard over the salesman, and You can
at once see the estimate placed by the
firm on the salesman'S value.
IF they could get as good a man who
was not addicted to liquor, they would
quickly discharge the man they now
employ. There is no doubt about the
temptations in the way of diamond
salesman. They are greater than those
placed in the way of any other class of
trusted men l know.
Zone of the greatest dangers to a dia-
mond importing firm is that a trusted
salesman will fall in with an unscrupu-
lous woman, or will become addicted to
the habit of gambling. Suppose a man
becomes gambler, and suffers losses
heavier than he can afford. He gets in
tight place. Like every gambler he
feels his luck will soon turn. He knows
that he has $4,000 or $4,000 worth of
goods with him, on which he can at
once realize ready money at a pawn
shop.
HE never doubts the turn of the cards
his way. He sci or pledges his goods,
Amy of his regular customers will buy
from him and will never suspect any
CIlHo IL TIC olLerS d udrBdlH. nc Hds
done that often before for the sake of
trade. He loses the money and his de.
linquency is soon revealed. Then comes
arrest, prosecution and conviction. As
I said when l began. good diamond
statesmen are rare, and l could name
now several men who have been found
short, but whom their employers have
forgiven and offered another chance
sooner than lose their services. If we
could sell goods by sample all this would
be changed, but we can not, and hence
we are forced to take the risks. AS a
result, you will find that as soon as pos.
sible most importers of diamonds give a
salesman as soon as they possibly can
an interest in the business besides his
salary, so as to offer an additional in
ducement to him to be honest. IN. Y.
News.