Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-23

The business firms o9 Omaha are develop
ing and encoc-agin 4 new way II getting
acquainted With their employees. In the
pleasant season when snail boys gather up
their best fish lines, cut 4 willow switch and
hike for the river, when the tired business
man dreams and dreams and dreams Of
flashing trout and diving muskalounge, big
business houses are taking TO the weeds.
They are having business picnics. The
whole idea comes from the modern spirit
of good fellowship between employer and
employed. The western business man. lsu-
ally a product of the business in which he
is engaged knows the conditions OF his en-
ployes and enjoys an opportunity to hobnob
with them and gain their confidence.
A typical affair OF this sort was given
the employees of the Burgess-Granden com
pany. The fifty or more employees of this
concern with their wives and children gain
cred at Miller park Saturday afternoon for
a big day off. All Of the travelling statesmen
were called in off the road and everybody
from the office boy to the president of the
company was right on hand and strong on
enthusiasm
The 100 people who were present Joined in
we'll played ball game either as wildly
roofing spectators or players. In the races
for all kinds OF prizes and the all around
athletic contests. One amusing incident
occurred when q policeman came unex-
pectedly upon the field and arrested Mr.
Burgess. president Of the company for un-
named crimes. He was taken before a mock
court and sentenced to eat a dish OF ice
cream without q spoon, which he did and
seemed to enjoy 1t. The whole affair wa
taken in charge by two of the statesmen
r p. Beardslee and c. o. Heath. They got
up the program and arranged the athletic
/ stunts and saw 10 II that every body go
enough TO eat at the picnic supper.
Affairs such as this very successful one
OF the Burgess-Granden company have
been given by many of the big firms o.
the city and in some houses such an out
ing Is a wen established custom. The firm
picnic is looked forward to and planne'
| for all summer.
One prominent business man who spends
part Of his time In planning picnics
Christmas treats and other good times To-
his numerous employees explained his owl
activity thus; "of course. the principal rea
sons for doing these things Is the fac
that We get interested In our employees
especially our older ones and like to d.
things for them that will make them hap
pier. But there are good business reasons
too. In the first place Il gives us a ehane
TO get acquainted with the wives and fami
lies OF the older men who are working 70
Us and with US
1T has been my experience that whe
the people Al home know nothing at all o
the man who pays their husbands wages
they are apt 10 look upon him as sOmethin
OF an ogre Of q selfish old eurmudegon
About the only time the wage-earner
likely 10 mention his employer Is when h
believes he has something 10 complai
about. But when We can get out in tn
woods somewhere with these people. en-
Joy ourselves with them and get their con
fidenoe they trust Us. Then when the wage
Garner comes home tired and out OF sort
he finds that the firm has a friend In III
home who takes our side somewhat an
helps him to see the reasonableness OF IN
MATTER. From every standpoint Il pay
Il helps Us 10 keep our employees on pleas
ant terms with Us and with each other an
that Is one Of the most important element
In business success"
Picnics as plcnics are growing In geners
popularity anyway. Omaha may be unlik
other cities IN that respect. but eertAinl
There are more picnioa here each saeOesdin