The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-03-21
DIAMOND statesmen.
Competent Men Hard to F1nd Even n
Prlncely Salaries.

Competent Men Hard to T1nd Even NJ
Prlncely Salaries.
"a thoroughly competent and thor
oughly equipped diamond salesman"
said a leading importer Of the valuable
stones, sis almost as rare and valuable
as the diamond itself. | will say freely
to you now that II could find sales
man who filed all the requirements of
the position, / would gladly pay him a
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 "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 lie will get drunk. Now if this
man was strictly sober lie could add
several thousand dollars yearly to
his salary. AS it, is, he draws
large salary, and the house
which employs him would worry il
they thought there was any danger
of losing him. You can appreciate the
danger of employing "a man who is
addicted to drink as diamond sales
man at once. You see we are forced by
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 a man a large and valua-
bic 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 $40, 900 to
$50, 900. 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
"In 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 a salary of 81 200 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 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 dia-
mond importing firm is that a trusted
salesman will fall in with an unscrupu.
lous woman, or will become addicted tc
the habit of gambling. Suppose man
becomes a gambler, and suffers losses
heavier than he can afford. He gets il
a tight place. Like every gambler, he
feels his luck will soon turn. He knows
that he has $4,000 or S25, 900 worth Of
goods with him, on which he can al
shop.
"He never doubts the turn of the cards
his way He sells or pledges his goods
Any of his regular customers will buy
from him and will never suspect any
, thing if he offers a bargain. He ha
done that often before for the sake o
trade. He loses the money and his de
! linquency is soon revealed. Then come
. arrest, prosecution and conviction. A
: 1 said when ! began, good diamonC
statesmen are rare, and | could mann
I now several men who have been foun,
short, but whom their employers hav
;. forgiven and offered another chanc
n sooner than lose their services. If w
p could sell goods by sample all this woult
: be changed, but we can not, and henc
3 we are forced to take the risks. AS
$ result, you will find that as soon as pos
t sible most importers of diamonds give
f salesman as soon as they possibly cal
t an interest in the business besides hi
, salary, so as to offer an additional in
:, ducement to him to be honest. IN. Y
;. News.