Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-07-01

writer has never seen him worried or
perturbed. He apparently is never
excited or out of humor- No situa-
ton ever moves him to violent ejacu-
lation. His employees occasionally
lose their heads and run in a circle,
but Capper moves through it all, calm,
serene and apparently unconcerned.
They say in the business Office, the
department with which he comes in
not a bit more fussy and peevish
than he was ten years ago. The re-
sponsibilities of his business have
weighed on him 10 that extent. But
as compared to the average man who
has the burden of business on his
shoulders, Capper in his most fussy
moment is as mild hammered and in
offending as sucking dove. The
writer recalls one incident from doZ-
ems that have come under his obser-
Walton which illustrates his calmness
and serenity of mind. Shortly after
he moved into his his new publishing
house two or three years ago there
was an explosion of natural gas in
the basement of the building. Two
or three employees were seriously in
jured, thousands of dollars worth of
property and material were destroyed
and two expensive presses wrecked.
When the writer reached the scene
of the accident an hour after it oc-
CURED the Topeka fire department
was playing ON the flames and large
crowd had gathered. Capper was
standing on the front steps of the
building unexcited and apparently
the one man in the crowd uninterest-
ed in the catastrophe. But he had
the wreckage cleared away and the
dismantled presses running in two
days.
Next to the mastery of his business
Mr.. Capper's most marked attribute
in the loyalty which he wins from
his employees and the admiration in
which they hold him. He has way
of handling men. When man re-
ports to Capper for work he is assign
ed his task and put on honor to &C
complish it. There is no bossing; nc
show of authority, and rarely does he
receive any specific instructions
Generally speaking, he is left to work
out his salvation in his own way. II
he fails Mr.. Capper suggests a differ
ent method. Is he makes good he is
given an absolutely free hand and un-
limited leeway. Capper never gives
direct order. The thing he desire.
done is put up to his en1ploye in tn,
form of suggestion. The employ,
always is consulted and is perfectl,
free to state any objection he has Il
the plan. But if he can find no logi
cal objection he comes to know, afte,
he has been identified with the Cap
per forces for few months, that Mr.
Capper has given an order to have j
done. The reprimandS, which are
part of every big business, take ais
the form of suggestions from MI
Capper. Nowhere does he show tn
hand of authority. And the employ
who does good work always is praised
The boss is accessible to any employ
around the Capital building. In
speech at one of his annual banquet
to his helpers two or three years ag
he stated that he personally desire
to talk with any member of the Cal
per family, as the employees call i
who at any time felt that he had
grievance or had been discriminate
against in any way. The least impo
/ tant person around the Capper built
ing can take his trouble to the Bos
and have it ironed out. The resu
| of this system is that Capper has
working force that is absolutely 10y;
, to him. There is pickering betwee
: department heads as in every otht
big business, but there never is AT
: feeling against or criticism of I'll
: Boss. To know that Mr.. Cape
wants a thing done is to set evel
person connected with his public
tions Juggling to accomplish it.
: Capper plays as he works, on sy
tenn. If the hour at which he h;
: decided to play golf has arrived /