The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-03-26
DIAMOND statesmen.
Competent Men Hard to Find Even
Princely Salaries.


Princely Salaries.
"A thoroughly competent and thor
oughly equipped diamond salesman"
said ii leading importer of the valuable
stones, lis almost as rare and valuable
as the diamond itself. will say freely
to you now that If could find sales
man who filled all the requirements of
the position, would gladly pay him
salary of slO,00O or $4,000 per year.
But it is difficult to find well equipped
salesman who has not some drawback
or fault. There is 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 a man who Isl
addicted to drink as a 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 a valu2-
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-
bic stock of goods when he goes out to
visit our customers. Now, anyone
would naturally hesitate before he
Sc cd 10, l,s,,l
stock of goods worth from $2O,O 900 to
$4,000. 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 a 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 salary of 81 200 year and
has all of his expenses paid. OF course,
this man is of really no value except as
a 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 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 know.
Zone of the greatest dangers to dia-
mond importing firm is that trusted
salesman will fall i'm with an unscrupu-
lous woman, Or will become addicted to
the habit of gambling. Suppose man
becomes a gambler, and suffers losses
heavier than he can afford. He gets in
tight place. Like every gambler, he
feels his luck will soon turn. lie knows
that he has $4,000 or $4,000 worth OF
once realize ready money at a pawn
shop.
"He never doubts the turn of the cards
his way. He sci or pledges his goods.
Any of his regular customers will buy
from him and will never suspect any
thing If he offers bargain. He has
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
| said when l began, good diamond
statesmen are rare, and ! 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
he 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 :nts rest in the business besides his
salary, SO as to offer an additional in
dncemcnt 10 him to hs l,anaSt"> N. Y.
News.