The Advocate and news., 1898-11-30
" Employment Seeking Labor"

'|KeN ~A"~NN~
NOnoOnformist.
When the President was recently
swinging around the circle he said that
the country was 80 prosperous that In
stead Of labor hunting employment that
employment was hunting labor. A man
out of Job hearing this statement went
TO South Omaha TO see II there wasn't
some employment there hunting for him.
AS there were no good jobs running
around trying to find him, he concluded
that he would try and find stray job
for himself. He went to one Of the big
packing houses and applied for the posi-
tion OF night watchman and custodian
Of rat traps. In this important position
II would have been his duty to see that
none Of the dead hogs got away and that
the rat traps were set and baited, and
the game properly disposed OF. Before
obtaining a position OF this Importance
he found 1t necessary to pass a civil
examination. He was given paper on
which there were foTty-twO questions to
answer, and on these answers depended
his hope of salvation. Here are some Of
the questions: Are you single, married,
or a widOwer?" This question might be
embarrassing II our friend were a grass
widower How many children have you
and are they all dependent on your" Is
that any of their business?
do you own or rent the house In
which you live or do you bOard|
"How long have you resided at your
present address?"
"Where did you previously reside and
how long?" Couldn't man watch dead
hogs, and set rat traps without giving a
history Of his past life?
"What position do you now hold and
what salary do you receiver" It Is a
trlfe lmpudent for one gentleman to ask
such question Of another
why did you leave your last posi-
tlon?"
Have you ever been discharged; if-so,
give particulars?"
In these two questions is the whole
gist Of the examination. They want to
know whether our friend ever went on
strike; whether he ever showed any
Independence whether he was ever
blackllsted; whether he was free man
or a slave, and on the proper answer to
these two questions depended his chance
of getting a job from that employer or
any other.
"At what salary will you accept a po-
sltion?" In other words how hard up
are you and how cheap will you work?
''Do you drink intoxicating liquors?"
Answer this question In the affirmative
for maybe someone wants to set 'em
up. In number Of other questions
the candidate Is asked II he has any
property or income; IL he owes any
debts, II there are any judgments
against him, II he ever failed in business
and when, where and for how much, and
the names Of the three largest creditors.
They also want to know II applicant ever
asked bond Of any bonding company
and II said bond was refused. They want
TO know the names Of the fellows par
entS and nearest relatives. They prob
ably want to climb his ancestral tree.
Next they modestly ask him where he
has been and what he has been doing for
ten years last past; the names Of all his
employers during that time, and why he
left each and every job. There is moth
Ing new In this article. The same thing
or something similar Is done by every
large employer In the land, and we refer
10 1t only to show our thousands Of read
ers how a man must cringe and crawl |
and debase his manhood to get employ
ment under present industrial condi- |
tions. Every man on earth that wants |
honest work ought to get 1t, without |
giving up his pride or laying down his
independence