Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-07-10
THE YOUNG MANS AGE
DEMAND FOR YOUTH IN EDUCA-
TION AND BUSINESS.
An Unbiased View of the Really Re
markabIe Movement that Is Now
Taking Place Problems Which Its
Existence Bring Into Being.


Two very remarkable movements are
discernible in the business and the edu-
cation of the times; and yet, when we
come to examine them, we find that the
tendencies have been clearly In view
for more than a decade. Six years ago
the present writer went TO the presl-
dent of one of the large corporations OF
this country and asked him to give en-
ployment to 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: 81 want to do
this, but 1t Is impossible. The age or
the young man is crowding upon mod
ern business 50 fast that he will soon
monopolize it, We take no one who
has passed 45-we cannot afford 10 90
it. But | will tell you what l Will
do. If this man has son anywhere
from 10 to % years old I'll find posi-
tion for him at once So far has this
tendency already gone that the prob
lem of getting rid of employees above a
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 profound
impression upon the highest colleges
and universities of the country. 1t has
been shown that if student goes
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 ut least five
years before that time. 1t Is not mere
sentiment but Il real conviction which
contends that the years lost from work
between 20 and 30 are in 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 It
is true. That there will come change
"a compromise, perhaps-seems to be
one Of the certainties OF the near fu-
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. 1t Is
not fair to set limits on any individual.
SO long as he is able to do his work
and do it 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 1t would be easy
to fill many columns with names OF
those who are past 10 who are holding
their own with the best that the young
er generations can show. But there is
an army of millions of wrinkled and
white-haired veterans who have ioiled
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 Droblem
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,
quickness and enthusiasm.-Saturday
Evening Post.