Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-06
s. 4 Message to Garcia 3. 3


nine out Of ten who apply, can neither
spell nor punctuate-and do not think
it necessary to.
Can such one write letter to
Garciaa
"You see that book-keeper," said
the foreman to me in large factory.
Eyes, what about himp"
"Well, he's fine accountant, but
II I'd send him up town on an errand,
he might accomplish the errand all
right, and on the other hand, might
stop at four saloons on the way and
when he got to Main street, would
forget what he had been sent for"
Can such man be entrusted to
carry a message to Garcia9
We have recently been hearing
much maudlim sympathy expressed
for the "down. trodden denizen Of the
sweat-shopN and the "homeless wan
derer searching for honest employ
ment," and with it all often goes
many hard words for the men in
power.
Nothing is said about the employer
who grows old before his time in a.
vain attempt to get frowsy ne'er,do-
wells to do intelligent work; and his
long patient striving with "help'
that does nothing but loaf when his
back is turned. In every store and
factory there is constant wedding
out process going on The employer
is constantly sending away "help"
that have shown their incapacity to
further the interests Of the business,
and others are being taken on. No
matter how good times are, this sort
ing continues, only If times are hard
and work is scarce, the sortingi is done
finer-but out and forever out, the
incompetent and unworthy 60. 1t is
the survival OF the iittest. Self.in-
terest prompts every employer to
keep the best-those who can carry
a message to Garcia.
know one man Of really brilliant
parts who has not the ability to man
age business of his own, and yet
who is absolutely worthless to any
one else, because he carries with him
constantly the insane suspicion that
his employer is expressing, or intend
ing to Cypress him. He cannot give
orders and he will not receive them.
Should a message be given him to
take to Garcia, his answer would
probably be, Take it yourself"
Tonight this man walks the streets
looking for work, the wind whistling
through his threadbare coat. No one
who knows him dare employ him,
for he is o regular tire-brand Of dis
content. He is impervious to reason,
and the only thing that can impress
him is the toe of a thick-soled No. 9
boot.
| OF course know that one so moral
" deformed is no less to be pitied
than physical cripple; but IN our
plying, LIT us drop a tear, too for
the men who are striving to carry on
great enterprise, whose working
hours are not limited by the whistle,
and whose hair is fast turning white
through the struggle to hold in line
dowdy indifference, slipshod imbecil-
ity, and the heartless ingratitude,
which, but for their enterprise, would
be both hungry and homeless.
Have put the matter too strongly
Possibly l have; but when all the
world has gone aslumming | wish to
speak word Of sympathy for the
man who succeed s-the man who,
against great odds, has directed The
efforts of others, and having succeed
ed, finds there's nothingin it; nothing
but bare board and clothes.
| have carried dinner pail and
worked for days wages, and ! have
also been an employer Of labor and !
know there is something to be said on
both sides. There is no excellence,
per Sc, in poverty; rags are no recon-
mendation; and all employers are not
rapacious and high'handed' any more
than all poor men are virtuous'
Ny heart goes out to the man who
does his work when the "boss" Is
away as well as when he is at home
And the man who, when given a let
ter for Garcia, quietly takes the mis-
sive, without asking any idiotic ques
tions. and with no lurking intention