The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09
DEMAND For srENoGRApHERs

DEMAND FOR sTENOGRAPHERs.
The New York Sun expresses concern be-
cause one department at Washington has
had to go to Porto Rico for two of it's stem
ographers, the importations being natives
of the island, and asks what is the matter
with the shorthand writers Of this country.
1t considers 1t scarcely credible that good
office stenographers are so few in the
United States as to make it necessary to
get foreigners to fill government places. 1t
is just possible that government officials
do not look upon Porto Ricans as '-for-
eigners,' but, however this may be, and
whether the Sun thinks it credible not,
the truth seems to be that the demand
everywhere for competent male stenog
raphers is greater than the supply. Two or
three times recently the Journal through
its correspondents, has called attention to
the numerous opportunities open through
the civil service to young men skilled as
shorthand writer's. One railroad company
within the Journals knowledge employs
only male stenographers, and 1t is said that
others would make the same limitation IL it
were possible to secure the men. Many
private business firms would, for one rea-
son and another. prefer young men for this
service, but are unable to find them. AS
matter of fact, boys and young men have
given comparatively little attention to this
work for several years. their idea being,
presumably, that girls had occupied the field
and left few opportunities for them. The
Eruption OF young women into the business
world, and especially into this branch of
service. naturally led to such impression.
Moreover, the women established a scale of
wages that was discouraging to ambitious
boys. However the demand for girls in
this line of work has waned somewhat.
Many have undertaken it who were quite
incompetent for their duties. In certain
quarters 1t is often desirable to ask of such
employees miscellaneous services not well
suited to women. In railroad Offices 1t is
desired that stenographers and confidential
clerks shall have opportunity for promo
ton, and women have not yet reached the
point in the progress toward their rights
where ii is considered advisable to appoint
them to the higher offices railroads.
Precisely what the objection is in govern
ment Offices to female stenographers has
not been made clear, but certain it is that
the call from the departments is for men.
With all these signs of preference for
young men, it is probably true that no
young woman who is thoroughly competent
will ever lack for a well-paid position. The
trouble, both with many Of the boys and
girls who undertake to fit themselves for
such work, is that, even after they have
gained some facility in the writing of
shorthand, and have learned to rattle the
keys of a typewriting machine, they are
only half-equipped for the service. They
have little general information, they do not
understand the meaning of many common
words, their vocabulary is limited and they
| cannot spell. Naturally, this makes their
| manuscript defective and tries the patience
| of the employer. good high school edu-
| cation, fund Of general information such
as is possible to any intelligent. wideawake
| newspaper-reading and book-reading youth,
| the ability to spell, knowledge of. the art
| Of punctuation, Quickness of comprehen-
| sion and a painstaking habit acquire
ments and qualities that the good stenog-
| rapher must possess, in addition to tech
nical skill. The ideal service in this line is
where the employee is so we'll acquainted
with the particular business and with bust
ness forms in general as to be able to dis
pense with verbal dictation and to prepare
the correspondence and business papers
with only brief notes or memoranda tc
| guide him. One so qualified, however, is
likely to be classed as a secretary and is
| pretty sure to go up higher. The work OF
the successful stenographer is by no means
purely mechanical. There is room for the
| exercise Of all his intelligence and energy
If he will have it so, and the profit will bt
| in proportion. Without doubt there is ar
| opening in this field now for young men
and they will do well to investigate 1t.