Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1902-07-03

Two very remarkable movements are
discernible in The business and the edu-
cation of the tines and yet, when we
come to examine them, we find that the
tendencies have been clearly in view
for more than decade. Six years ago
the present writer went to the presi-
dent of one of the large corporations of
this country and asked him to give en-
| ployment to Il man who had turned his
forty eighth year. There were personal
reasons why he should grant such re
quest, and the person for whom the
place was sought was entirely accept
able in character, ability and health
The president replied: II want to do
this, but 1t is impossible. The age of
the young man is crowding upon mod
ern business so fast that he will soon
monopolize 1t. We take no one who
has passed 45-we cannot afford TO do
1t. But l will tell you what | will
| do. If this man has u son anywhere
| from Is to 20 years old I'll find posi-
| ton for him at once" SO far has this
tendency already gone that the prob
lem of getting rid Of employees above ii
certain age is now under discussion,
and so great has been the uneaSiness
that several of the large concerns have
issued statements that the old men
will not be discharged.
At the same time practically all OF
them are taking on only young men,
and the demand has made a profound
| impression upon the highest colleges
and universities of the country. 1t has
/ been shown that If Il student goes
I through all the courses to the post-grad-
uate Specifications he is about 80 be-
fore he gets into active life-and mod
ern business needs him AT least i've
years before that time. 1t IS not mere
sentiment but real conN Lotion which
contends that the years lost from work
between 20 and 80 are in Il measure
stolen from the lives of the students.
This may be an extreme view, but
many, If not most, Of our leaders in in
dustry and in the professions believe II
Is true. That there will come change
"a compromise, perhaps-seems to be
one of the certainties OF the near flu
ture.
Along with the increasing hold Of the
young men comes the problem Of car
ing for those who have passed Into
what Is sweepingly called old age. Ii IS
not fair to set limits on any individual.
SO long as he is able to do his work
and do 1t acceptably he is entitled to
every opportunity and advantage. We
do not refer, of course, to the old men
OF signal ability and success, for the
grave is the only stop to their energies
and usefulness. and II would be easy
to I'LL many columns with names of
those who are past 40 hU are holding
their own with the best thai the Young
er generations can show. hu' there Is
an army of millions Of wrinkled and
white-haired veterans who have toiled
faithfully and well all their lives, and
upon whom others are dependent.
Their welfare brings into prominence
the sysem OF old-age pensions which
has been pursued In Germany more
successfully than anywhere else, and
which has been introduced by several
Of the important corporations in the
United States. This may be the solu-
ton Of the other end of the problem,
while the young men keep on crowding
into the offices and workshops and ac-
complishing the great things Of an ad-
vancing civilization by their skill.
uuickness and enthusiasm Saturday
Evening Post.