Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-12-05
YOUNG MEN FOR BUSINESS.

British commercial managers, Ill
searching for a reason why their
houses are SO far out-stripped IN the
race for business, by American con
Germs, have about decided that one !ea-
son is that they employ too many ola
men in the conduct of their businesses.
They call attention to the fact that
Americans place apparently boundless
confidence in young men and employ
them in responsible positions. we
are willing to play off the young mans
energy and freshness against his mex
perience, and the result, in the eyes OF
the English merchants. seems ~ Jus
tify the venture.
Consequently. the British mercantile
managers are resolving to employ
young men in their business to a much
larger extent than heretofore ana will
try if, by this means, they infuse de-
gree of life and enthusiasm into their
enterprises that will capture some CT
the plums frogl the Yankees. they
are troubled, however, by the question
what to do with their old men, Some
managers are considering the teasibil-
ity Of pensioning their aged clerks, be-
Ilieving that it would be cheaper to re-
tire them ON half pay than to continue
them. with their old-fashioned notions
and rusty habits, in charge Of their
mercantile enterprises.
/ In their extremity the Englishmea
! are asking of their American business
cousins, What do you do with your
old men?" 1t is a question which, at
! first thought, few can answer So many
large enterprises in this country are
being managed and run by compare
lively young men that it is hard 70 i'm
! agine where the old men go. In seek
ing for an answer we must consider
! the fact that business man in this
country retains his youthful enterprise
and energy for longer time Than in
England where conservative method:
and hide-bound routine make young
man engaged in mercantile PURSUITS
grow old and staid before his time.
In America a consistent premium is OF
Tered for successful departure from the
beaten path, and the faculties OF bust
ness men are kept constantly sharpen
ed by the milestone of severe com
petition close at hand.
Slow and conservative commercial
methods are, in the main, responsible
for the early departure OF ambition ant
enterprise from the minds of Englisl
4 clerks; and it is, indeed, highly prob
able that if British merchants were u
give the young man chance by put
ting a premium on business cleverncS:
and originality they would not long be
bothered with the problem OF what II
do with the old man, for the old lnal
would take care of himself as he loe'
in America.
There is. however, note of warn
, ling TO Young men in this hostile att
tude of business men toward old-fogy
lism and conventionality. There is il
it an injunction to be energetic an
= original, to consider ideas in the ligh
: of assets, valuable to employer and Ell
t ploye alike. Keep out of ruts. See
, YOU can't think of something new a
well as the other fellow. Above al
save your money, SO that when you ar
! no longer young man you won't b
d left out in the cold, and instead {
@ heing a friendless old mendicant 20
= will Yourself, be in a position to diret
o 1.-THE energies of other young men i
= the conduct OF the worlds bushes
! Perhaps, after all, the young ma
movement is only fore-running sig
of the millennium when young me
! shall work and old men shall devo
their time and the measure OF the
experience to better things than con
: percial pursuits.
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