The Red Cloud chief., 1920-12-30
A Cirlless
System
By T. q. ANDERSON
co. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.
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and be stood stock still viewing his
employer, Mark Scaton, with the stare
of startled and perplexed man.
That is the Order" answered the
latter tcrsely, and it Is TO be put in
effect within week."
Hugh Bertrand made no reply. He
was an under superintendent of the
town plant devoted 10 the manufac-
ture of lOose-leaf devices, where he
had been employed for many years.
Within the previous month Mark Sea-
ton had purchased the business from
Its original owners. Bertrand had
heard that the new proprietor was
tyro and a discipllnarian and antici-
pated trouble. He decided to make a
suggestion for the general good In
little speech to his fellow employees
a week before the arrival Of Seaton,
he said:
I'VE are happy, contented group
OF friends and have got accustomed to
easy, comfortable ways in our labors
here, but the world moves and we
want to adjust ourselves to its prog
ress. The new management will prob
ably install time clock and a system
Of penalties for late corners and make
considerable alterations in general
methods. Let everyone seek adjust
ment to the conditions. II we follow
this sensible course there need be no
disturbing friction"
II can't understand what Mr.. Sea-
ton Is driving at. Discharge the fe-
male employees Why, that simply
overturns the efficiency of the whole
business" seriously reflected Bert
rand. His daughter Grace, was in
charge Of one of the departments, and
to her he disclosed the situation. She
looked grave and troubled.
~ heard that Mr.. Seaton was what
is called woman hater before he
came here" she said. only few
days ago, II friend told me that
he overheard Mr. Scaton telling Wis
iting friend that he did not believe in
keeping women around He said all
they thought of was face powder, hair
dressing and vanity | fancy he must
have been crossed in love, father"
~ don't know" answered bertrand
gloomily, "but he can't be human not
to see that the feminine part of our
help eleyatcs our men workers, has
refined them to degree and has made
work actually agreeable. | DONE know
how il may he In the city whore the
help Is constantly changing, but here
we are like a family, well brought up
together,
1t was followed out ana the girl
less system duly inaugurated. There
was a parting of lovers, of sisters
even of husbands and wives, for in
some Instances whole families had
worked together. The places of the
girls and women were filed mainly
now by boys and young men. The old
male employees were dissatisfied at
the new arrangement. The pleasant
noon hours in agreeable, harmonious
company gave way to dull, uncvent-
ful resting period,
Grace Bertrand came in close CON
tact with Mr.. Seaton because of the
fact that she had always headed the
girl employees ms sort Of leader.
Many went to work In ether towns
and it was her province to visit Sea-
ton and secure recommendation for
them. IL somewhat sOftened his hard
nature to realize the helpful unselhsh
nature of the businesslilie. sensible
young girl, who expressed no overt
criticism as to his drastic eXaction,
but still made him feel that he was the
means of causing confusion, and In
some cases distress in scattering a
community of girls who had led
safe, happy life under the old menage.
Within month there brooded over
the plant sense of disruption and
discomfort that Seaton could not help
but notice. Many Of the expert work
crs. fearing other changes and infested
with sense of instability, resigned to
seek now employment. Nobody liked
the new proprietor, and he felt it,
Several times when he met Grace on
the street he engaged her In apparent
ly casual conversation, but gradually
brought It about to the labor situation.
and the results Of the innovation he
had made. The girl attracted him
he felt the influence Of new view
points. Secretly he wished he had
consulted her before he made the
change that he plainly dlsCerned was
not beneficial to the general group.
In money way, too, there was a
palpabie retrogression,
One morning Grace Bertrand be-
came the heroine of the town. Her
father ont Of friendship and sympathy
had taken the place of the Waterman
Of the plant, who had serious illness
In his family. At eleven o'clock, Grace
ran over to the works TO take him a
warm lunch. She found him bound
and gagged, and coterle of burglars
I'm the Office striving to open the safe
which Mt that especial time of the
month held an unusually large amount
OF money.
n,,icIIv cro On boStpno1 IN tho no