Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-21
ABOUT STENOGRAPHERS.
As a Rule They Do Not Be.ray Business Secrets

For a woman stenographer to offer
to sell the business secrets Of her EN-
ployer Is 50 unusual proceeding that
when woman was accused Of doing
this last week it caused a tremendous
sensation. says the New York Press
The case Of Mrs. Coutant who tried to
make money by Offering for sale an
alleged expose Of the professional and
political methods of Mr.. Slater. was
almost without precedent. 1t was con-
spicuous because of its isolation. II
called attention TO the thousands of
women who possess knowledge of sucr
an intimate and delicate nature that
they could danoralize the whole bust
ness and official world if they were not
perfectly trustworthy.
1t is probable that women gossip
among themselves said n prominent
business man. but they don't barter
their knowledge as men are likely to
do They are not tempted TO do this.
as men are and besides they have n
nicer sense of honor about such mat
ters''
ForeknOWiedge of deals, confidential
information in regard to manpulations
and the securing of personal interest
or political protection. responsibility
/ in regard to the carrying out of nicely
formed plans and delicateIy balanced
agreements are possessed by the wo-
men who. with swift and rapid move
ments. jot down in black and white
the words that o man often wishes
might have been lost on the air.
A large banking concern that Il in
terested in many large enterprises ana
corporations has q confidential en-
! ploye who IS in all practical respects
q partner in the concern. She entered
as a stenographer almost twenty
years ago and has won by her ability
and discretion the confidence of the
! heads of the firm. She does not give
much time to shorthand in these days.
| but has stenOgTaphers under her. She
| is concerned with the management of
the large affairs Of the business. She
signs checks and is the treasurer of one
of the companies in which the firm is
/ interested. 1t is not at all uncommon
! for women of proved integrity in =
| business to be made officers and to be
intrusted with the responsibility of
some of the most important transac-
tons that are undertaken.
! y Wal street man. broker and bank
! er Of high standing. has "A woman who
serves As hl- private secretary and whose
promotion mas Kept pace with his grow
ing fortune. he Is worth millions today.
Fifteen Wears AGO h. had no financial IA j.
Week. She is familiar with every de-
( tail Of the process By which he has made
| his fortune. He is ranked as phiian-
thropist but if there are any dark pages
| in his life she could publish them. There
| are many men employed in this bank but
when the head Of the firm goes to Cali
instructions are left with his private sec
1 rotary and it is to her that ne looks for
the most trustworthy information OF
what goes on while he is away. She has
authority also to sign his name to impor-
tant papers in his absence.
| In one Of the departments Of the Stand
ard OH Company woman holds high
) ~ important and confidential position and
could set her own price upon some of the
, secrets in her possession If she chose To
sell them. She entered the service of
the company fresh from a shorthand
school. but has passed to her present po-
sition by virtue OF her prudence and 6bil-
itY. Other stenOgraphers have come in
since her time. but they are men She is
the only woman in the department.
The same thing is true in one of the
! departments of the Carnegie Company.
The woman employed here was taken in
as an experiment. the first woman to be
employed in that department. Her work
brings her in contact with the men high
est in authority. and when the discus
Sions OF policy or changes are on, she is
present and knows OF the plans the
changes. the Disbursements ana the al
! liances OF which the outside bushes
/ world would give fortune to get i tip.
IN extra fifty or one hundred dollars Cor
the work OF an important meeting is all
! that she gets for the service and discic-
ton that are beyond money valuation.
Secrets OF big insurance companies that