The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-08
LABOR PROBLEMS
WITH BIG CIRCUS
How Question Is Solved by
Ringing Bros. and Barnum
& Bailey Shows,

THE task Of conducting a circus Of
the vast proportions Of the Ringing
Brothers and Barnum q Bailey shows
combined is largely a problem OF labor"
sald one OF the Ringing brothers re-
Gently while discussing the vaFious diff
fteultles incidental to moving the big
amusement entarpPise
ne circus manager must maintain
the best OF working relations with his
men, giving close attention to both their
bodily and mental welfare. The accom-
Tnodations bust be the best or the eff
clenoE OF the force will decrease The
employer who tries TO sklmp in the
mat tier Of quarters or fool his men will
fnd thRt their work win decrease Is
per cent per month and by the end of
the second month he viii find himself
with only a remnant of his crew. To
working men three square meals a day.
Our commissary has Instructions to
study the men and learn what they like
best 70 eat. He buys what they like
and plenty of II.
We carry 4 physician and surgeon
who attend to their Ills, though, since
the men work almost entirely In the
open air, they have little need of med
lolne. We encourage sports and our
laboring ranks this season number three
baseball mines, bowling team, tennis
players and quite a few clever wres-
eral bands and orchestras besides those
which appear In parade or on the main
tent program. And let 1t be distinctly
understood that every man travelling
with our circus has a sleeping berth on
our trains, ! know there is a popular
belief that the circus laborer hunks on
the tops Of wagons and goodness knows
where. That's pure bosh. | sometimes
think that this impression Is due to the
fact, that scores of the laboring men
are seen fully dressed and perched on
the tops Of vans, etc, when the circus
II should be remembered that these
men are required for instant work the
moment the trains come to standstill
and In view of this, have been reused |
by their respective bosses from their
quarters fun half hour before, To
suppose that they hadn't been in real
bed would be similar to arguing that
flyer had sat up all night merely be- |
cause they are ready to be handed down |
by the car porter when their train ar
rives at station,
III the circus laborer is at times |
carelessly dressed, 1t doesn't follow that |
he has no other wardrobe, Bear in |
mind that the great majority of people |
who travel on trains wear their best |
bib and tucker, That is, all but the |
firemen and engineer. They are the |
workers, And the laborer with a big |
circus Is a worker, too. He Is Of the |
class who work deep down in mines, |
or build great railroads. He or they |
can't wear boiled shirts and don't un- |
less It be on Sunday afternoon or eve
ming, when the circus never exhibits, |
thus allowing the workers weekly |
holiday"
This great superclrcus comprises the |
finest and biggest features OF the two |
great amusement institutions, which are |
in its title: The menagerie, |
street parade, arenic program--every- |
thing connected with it--are said to |
surpass anything ever before placed on |
tour II is to exhibit here Monday, |
Oct 90