Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-10-06
JUSTICE TO Them
MlDDLE-AoED MEN NEED FEAR
NO LONGER FOR THEIR JOBS.
Noted Physician Says Big Business
Has Learned Value Of Mature
Judgment and Flooding Stead
mess in Workers.

ers nor even with those verging on
old age, writes the noted physician.
DR.. l. Madison Taylor. Middle age
and even old age need no longer dread
the junk heap on which big business
previously proposed to scrap all but
the most energetic of the population.
Little more than year has elapsed
since American business parlance be-
gan to forget its phrase, IAN old man
of forty" Little more than year
may elapse before it shall have adopt
ed the phrase, "the young man Of
fifty" Times are changing. and men
with them.
Every indication of current indus
trial, economic and commercial condi-
lions evidences the imminent neces-
sity on the part of 100.000.0O0 compos-
ing the population of the continental
United States. of increasing enormous
ly their productive capacity and, nee
essarily, their individual efficiency.
The lesson is one that has been In
culcated, in various forms Of admoni-
dents of the European war and OF the
economic conflict which must follow
its conclusion.
Little more than ten years have gone
since, throughout the range Of big
business" the fiat went forth that this
is the day of the young men. In many
instances employees of undoubted 10y
atty and complete proficiency were
dismissed or denied advancement sole
ly on the score of an age limit which.
too frequently, was set at ludicrous-
ly low appraisement.
Even 40 years of live and fruit
full activity were supposed to be sufi-
cient to incapacitate a man for the
initiative demanded by our more
modern" business methods. Grievous
wrong was done large numbers Of ma
ture intelligences whose sobriety Of
judgment more than compensated for
the inappreciable abatement Of their
dynamic energy.
The present insistent demand for
workers of all classes has, to a note
worthy extent, swept aside the erro-
neous verdict of the big business" OF
the past decade. The conditions of the
immediate future make certain the
utilization in some form or other
of all of the mental and physical re-
sources of our people. II their indus
tries are to survive in the approach
ing struggle between European and
American industries.
Yet 1t remains. in the pitiless light
Of that brief tradition-existing long
enough to Establish a precedent still
respected-for men past the first flush
of their early vigor to realize the con-
ditions under which. II at all. they are
to come into their own and are to
hold it henceforward.
II, In our industries, we are to
meet successfully the bitter competi-
ton impending, not only must our ex-
ecutives utilize all the labor energy
and skill at their disposal. but the
men of middle age must do their ut
most to keep themselves at their best.
How shall they do It? AS practical
physician. l should advise the average
middle-aged man, for his first saliva
ton. to resolve not to squander effort.
He must concentrate; he must refrain
from assuming useless burdens. how
ever tempting they may be. He must
limit his expenditure of energy to the
work which he has in hand and limit
his appetites to the qualification Of
those only which shall conserve his
working powers.
Middle age, wisely conserved, need
not dread comparison with youths
strength weakened by youths lavish
ness.
Go into German workshops-into
any Industrial organization in Ger
maryland you will have visual dem
onstration of the fact that the men
most treasured are the men OF mid
die age and. frequently. old age. These
men usually evidence plodding stead
mess which implies less initiative
than is to be found in Americans of
corresponding years. But the lauded
and envied German efficiency has
proved their very steadiness. their In
defatigableness, their assured expert
ness to be qualities more than COM
pensating for the ginger" Of mere
youth.