South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-05
MEN WOULD RATHER
REST THAN LABOR
Superintendent Murphy Dis
covers That of Il Men None
Are Willing to Take Job.

Supt. Murphy OF the Indiana free
employment bureau had his ire
aroused the other day and this Us the
Why and wheref0r of it.
4 gentleman OF standing in the
community went 10 Murphy and said
that ne wanted Go hire four men, I
have to move" said the gentleman
and I viii have a little packing 10
do and some cleaning and also II
want my garden spadcd up. 1 can
use four men and viii pay them a
dollar and g half day each. The
work viii not be hard and IL viii be
easy money for some of the idle men
who have been out of work all win
ter"
All right. sir. 7 think that I can fix
you up" replied Murphy, and he
straightway led the gentleman into
the waiting room Of the employment
office where the proposition Of earn
ing at least $50 was presented TO II
sturdy, healthy men who were lined
against the wall.
Number one Of the II sturdy,
healthy men Immediately turned
down the proffer OF work and then
there were only 10. Number two did
likewise and then there were only
nine Number three followed suit
and then there were only eight. Num-
Der four did not need the money just
at that time and then there were only
seven. And thus Murphy and his
wOuld-be employer marched down the
line and thus they were looked upon
with disdain until finally the 18th man
turned contemptuOusly away and the
vote was unanimous in favor of idle
! ess.
Then it was that the Irish blood Of
the superintendent boiled within him
ana, squaring his shoulders, he spoke
thus. Gentlemen. il is not often
that j take occasion 20 make speech
10 you but at this time / feel con-
strained TO address a few words
which may be i'm the way Of advice
and warning. You notice that ] bring
10 you this gentleman. an honest man,
honOred and respected ira his com
munity, in order that he may choose
from among you four men TO help
him with some work. What is the
resUlt-nOt one man can ne get out OF
Who say that they want work
Now. gentlemen emphasized with
tsD, my assistant and / are here TO
help every man who needs help and
every day we fairly walk our legs off
hunting for men to. take the jobs
that We have. but let me tell YOU,
gentlemen with emphatic thUmp of
fist on handJ just let me tell YOU. we
are not here TO help any man who is
not willing fo help himself.
In conclusion, gentlemen. ! will
say that YOU are welcome TO use this
waiting room So long as YOU are Will
ing to take work. bat ] fear as / gaze
at YOU lOunging comfortably against
the wall and on the bench. ] fear that
YOU are the sort who come here look
ing for work and AT the same time
praying TO God that YOU won't find
any. Gentlemen. good dayt"
And SO II surprised men trOoped
sheepishing from the shelter of the
employment office ana sought sort
spots on the court house lawn And
also there went his way the one who
sought men 20 do his work and as he
went he Thought OF the money that he
had given to charity during the win
ter And as he disappeared down the
street the superintendent of the en-
ployment bureau stood in front of his
office searching his mind for words 10
tell how sore he was.