The Detroit times., 1912-02-19
HAVANA CLERKS HAVE BIG
CLUB; "CRAZY DREAMER
FOUNDED IF 81 YEARS AGO:
''.--
Magnificent 81 zoe, eae4 nstita-
ton Has Many Co-Opera-
tive Benefits
HAS $4,000 MEM BER S
Employer and Employe Rub FL
bows in Building Which Is
Worth SIS. 900 ....,-..
HAS $4,000 MEMBERS
BY WILLIAM SHEPHERD

HAVANA, Cuba, Feb. ~l9.-ENefy
little while we Americans officially
tell the Cubans how 10 behave.
But there are a few things the
Cubans do better than We DO. For
instance, there is the clerks Club OF
Havana
"A crazy YOUTH" folks called Felix
Garcia, back in 1878, when he began
talk about forming a club OF clerks.
He was only a clerk in dry goods
store. But, somehow, he couldnt
stop talking. In Cuba, as in all other
civilized places, Garcia saw that
clerks held most uncertain places in
society and commerce. They had 10
dress well and keep clean on small
pay. They could not save Sickness
or lack OF work meant ruin.
Felix talked these things to anyone
who would listen. At last Felix's boss
rot tired of It.
You're crazy" he said to Felix one
day. You're fred
But that didn't stop Felix. His
clothes became tattered, his regular
meals stopped, but he didn't AT last
he got 20 clerks to form an organiza-
ton.
There were no initiation or special
fees.
Every member paid $3.50 month.
A member might drop out any
month he pleased and he might re
enter the club any month he pleased,
upon payment OF the monthly $l.5O.
AEy male above five might join.
Felix said he would guarantee that,
with the funds derived from the fees,
each member should receive medical
treatment, at the expense OF the
lodge, and also an education in a
school which the lodge would conduct.
Today the club numbers $4,000
members. IL has 10 small, exclusive
hospitals, where its sick members
are cared for. II has a club building.
tho finest in Havana, worth $750,O00.
1t conducts a free school, attended by
500 children of It's members, and
where the members themselves are
taught stenography, drawing, sculp-
ture and 20 other subjects, including
instrumental music.
1t has gigantic gymnasium that
will accommodate 500 youths at one
time, with the best athletic instruc-
tors than money can secure. Twice a
month, in the great, high-ceilinged
marble ballroom, which is over a
block long and third of a block wide,
II gives a ball, which is attended by
everybody who can get in, including
the members OF the most aristocratic
sections OF society, Its entire proper
~ is worth nearly 100000.
Employer and employees rub elbows
In the dance, for several years ago
the clerks club swallowed up club
which the merchants had formed.
Felix Garcia, the crazy youth" is
older now. The club keeps him in
Europe, or wherever else. he pleases
to be. preaching his doctrine.
His doctrine, in simple words, is
thisa
@Tou must have healthy body and
a healthy, unworrfed mind. Then you
can work best. II you have only a
little money, you cannot escape wor
ny, for there is always before you the
danger of becoming i'll and poverty
stricken. But II all who are with lit
tie money will join together. to help
each who Is i'll and weak and TO make |
him strong again, then most or the |
problem of happy living is solved"
Shining white teeth, cRed for by |
free, dentists in the clubhouse; bright |
eyes; bright, healthy faces: courteous
manners, gained from associations in
the club; the ability to speak English, /
French or German, taught In the club |
school; q gentle dignity that comes |
from self-respect; an absence or wor-
~ and tension, which shows the I'M |
harrassed mind--these are some of
the characteristics which any strang- |
er notes in the clerks OF the stores OF |