Arizona republican., 1902-08-21
PHoENfx. ARIZONA, AUG. 2l, 1902
Tn. New Commercial Era.

There appears elsewhere in this issue an interview in which it is shown that different and more rigid preparation for the business world must be made than was required a half or quarter century ago. The young man of bad habits is being entirely eliminated, and with him. unfortunately but unavoid- ably. the young man of imperfect health, because good health has become as essential as genius for business. The young man who drinks is passing out of the race. That this is so is no matter of sentiment on the part of his employers. They may care nothing about his morals CT what becomes of his soul but it has been shown that immortality in any form is destructive of good health and sh rtens the period of usefulness. The strain made by modern business methods has become so great that only an athlete can stand it.
 The story books for the edification of the youth of the country are filled with instances, real or imaginary, of the country boy who wanders to the city. carrying with him nothing but a change of clothing. his innocence and his habits of industry. from which cap ital he increases into the merchant prince or the railroad magnate. His day, too, is passing away. Not that innocence and honest habits do not command as high price as they al- ways did. and they always will com mand so high price. But something more is required by the new conditions. Business will have to be almost bred into a boy. so that at the age when boys fifty years ago, even ten years ago, were beginning to learn, they will now be filling responsible positions. The stepping stones are getting fewer and fewer
 This country has not always been the foremost in the business world. It was led by the English, the German and the French people, and also by the Russians and the Italians, not because they had a greater genius for business, but because they trained their boys more thoroughly.
 Until comparatively recently there were no American business houses in Mexico, South or Central America, or in the Orient, but there were German, English French and Russian houses everywhere. When the Americans at tempted competition they found they could make no headway. The trouble was that the business was in the hands Of self-made or self taught men. who could not stand against the trained men with whom they were brought into competition.
 With the passing condition a great deal of individuality and beautiful sem timent will dieappear, but we believe the country will be the better for it. It will certainly be the better commer- cially, and there will be the fewer men in the wrong places. It is true that many who might have succeeded under the old conditions will fail under the new, or even they may not be given trial They will be sacrifices to the greater commercial glory of the coun- try.
 Those who take the trouble to train themselves for other than a commer- cial life, though, will have greater op- portunities than ever and better facil- ities for training. The excellent tech nical schools of the country open wide avenues to profitable employment. and the need of capable men is so great that there-is a place waiting for every man qualified to fill it. But the burden of proof will be upon him.