The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-19
DEAR FOLKS:

IN n Ah1A1 W - ~N-ft~f%~
the oftenest at the
Wilson & Co. plant,
Chicago, was the day
Iwatchrhan. He is the Sem
Itinel on Guard-and he is
an active, intelligent, happy
and proud Sentinel. Do you
know why? III tell you.
up to three years ago, this
Waterman looked upon him.
self as a mere machine. He
felt that he occupied a
Imenial position because he
was treated as a mental.
Nobody apparently thought
him worth while. Every
.lday was the same to him.
Nothing happened between
sunrise and sunset to re-
Ilieve the monotony of his
life. He was discouraged as
most workers are who do
mot get kind words or at
tention.
But a new hold on life came to
him three years ago this month
and it was all brought about
through little act of kindness.
My, how small courtesy
changes things for all of us. 1t
dispels clouds and floods our
pathway with sunlight. Let me
tell you what the Waterman
told me.
"The day that Mr.. Wilson came
here to take charge of the bust
ness which had been given his
name, what do you suppose was
the first thing he did? Why, he
came to my shanty, shook hands
with me and said, John, want
you to know that l think you
are holding very important
position. Hook to you to watch
things very carefully. So much
depends on you. If you will
put your heart in your work and
: help me all you can / will be
VERY grateful. From now on
you are going to be right arm
to this business. / need your
help to make it a success. /
hope we will be good friends.
What do you say?' And of
course, | said, I'll help and |
! thank you so much for thinking
5 that / can help you From that
: time on, 1 have been very hap
ply. I am very proud Of the posi-
ton I hold. Mr.. Wilson always
speaks to me and shows that he
likes me. / am just the average
human being and when a man
respects me and treats mo
right, it makes an awful lot Of
difference in my viewpoint Of
} life. I feel that ! am now a real
I man doing work that is neces-
sary and helpful"
John and / got along fine to-
, gether during my daily visits to
Wilson & Company plant COW
ering period of five weeks.
u We had many a chummy chat.
He introduced me to many of
: the workers, all of whom re-
0 Ispect him. He dresses in a blue
uniform and stands guard with
as much pride as the Command
err of U. S. Warship stands on
the bridge of his ship. This is
| the sort Of spirit that makes a
/ business prosper.
Another worker-this one a young
woman--told me that the courtesy
I shown the Waterman by Mr.. Wilson
was witnessed by hundreds of work.
Iers who were standing at the win
= ldows of the big office building
watching for his coming. She said:
81 can't describe to you the wave Of
y satisfaction that Immediately struck
US all Instantly the word went all
through the plant that Mr.. Wilson's
q first act was to visit the Waterman,
!. and the cry went up in all depart
5. ments "A real man has come to lead
US; now we can put our heart in our
Il work; now we are sure of apprecia-
Z tion; now we know we will get q
n square deal You have no idea what
lIa. change was brought about at once.
= We went to our work with lighter
It hearts than we had ever had. We