Arizona republican., 1902-10-04
opportunities for Young Men.

ing his anxiety as 10 the SaIeIy anu welfare of "the young man, Absalom" implying that the young men of this country under existing conditions are finding it more and more difficult to secure a footing and achieve advance ment in the battle of life. And We o5- serve that dem6cratic writers and ora tors ia this campaign are echoins the doieful strain that the young man of today begins his career under heavy handicap because of 9 narrowed field for his activities. Very probably such a statement is believed by some of the people who make it, for apparently with a certain class of democrats the habit Of taking a gloomy view of all things earthly has become fixed.
 The truth is, that the remarkable eX- pansion of business in the United States since William Mckinley was elected in 1896 has opened for the young men oi America a boundless field of oD- portunity Never in the history of the world-ce1 tainly never in the history of our own land-was there such a de mand for employees of the right sort men of intelligence, sobriety, original ity and fidelity to trust. Indeed, ore of the complaints most frequently heard among men of large affairs is that it is difficult to find men who are capable in subordinate positions of taking on responsibility and relieving the man agement of excessive attention to de- tails. For young men who have ideas and discretion, and who under all cir cumstances are willing to labor as dil- igently for an employer as they would mand is never filled. It is true that with our industrial expansion have come changes in business methods, and that a higher degree of efficiency is re- quired in nearly all branches of em- ployment; but in no degree has this lessened opportunity. And certainly, greater efficiency calls for higher re- muEeration. The most gloomy prophet of evil will hardly deny that the great prizes in the form of high salaries are vastly mere numerous today than at any time in our past
 The greatest opportunities are found, of course. for special equipment. The young man of technical education has the most inviting field before him. But in the industries which call merely for all-round intelligence and efficiency, the chances for great success are so many as to afford stimulation for every young man of ambition. Take rail reading, for illustration. NOtwith- standing the general assumption that great railroad coasOlida tions are an evil, it must be admitted that so far as railroad employment is concerned. that line of work was never so attract i've. The young man, Absalom," who wishes to reach a high place in the world by making the railroad business his specially, finds now better openings than at any time heretofore. The own CTS and managers of railroads wisely recognize that the best service is ob- tained by holding out every opportu- nifty fer advancement, and by holding to a system of discipline and promotion for merit. The day of advancement through fayoritism is gone. Thus the humblest employe knows that so long as he is faithful to his trust he is not only secure in his position. but he need set no barriers to his ambitions-the world is before him.
 On the question of opportunities in the railroad business, MT. r. H. Bar rett, general superintendent of the Chi cagc and Alton railway, expressed himself a few days ago in these words:
 "The public at large has no concep- tion of the perfection of the methods by which the officials of railways de teTmine upon the advancement of their men. The order Of promotion of em- ployes. who are at all times protected by civil service rules, is practically the same as applied in the army and navy. Ability and merit are, of course, first considerations, but seniority is always considered, all other things being equal.
 Alter young man enters railway service there is no position, no matter how high, which he cannot hope to at tain.
 Added to the stability of demand for young hands, and the consequent value of the supply, railway com pany, with it's many departments. each subdivided into special branches. offers q wide field for congenial employment. h this respect the government of the United States alone surpasscs a rail way.
 The young man who enters the serv- ice must not only have ability and character sufficient to satisfy the chief of the employment bureau, but he must also prcVe acceptable to the head Of the department in which he has chosen to enlist, to the official examiner oi the company, who examines the applicant for vision and hearing, and to the con- pany's surgeon. who makes an eX- ceedingly thorough physical eXamina- ton. This detail is introduced to show that after a young man successfully passes all examinations he enters the railway serviCe with Q sort of cove nant between him and his employers to the effect that he is satisfa ctOry ma