The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-09-24
M E N w o M E N
 A ND T IN c s

was talking to a friend of mine awhile back, a leading merchant of Birmingham, and was pleased with what he said about his attitude to- ward the business conditions he had faced and was now partly facing. | We had some mighty good years" he said, and why shouil we com plain because at last the time came when Birmine ham had to take its medicine along with the rest of the cities in AmcrIea. It seems to me we ought to be thankful thas it came later here than in many other places
 thought this was the right sport ing spirit but he went on to say While I would like to show a good balance on the right side at the end of the year for 1921, yet I will be more than satisfied if I break even. for l will have had the personal sat- isfaction that I had kept my organi- zation going without having cut the salary of single employe"
 This was indeed fine and shows that there is a new feeling of service which is creeping into business. and was in keeping With what another merchant told me some years back on rainy afternoon v hen up on the third floor O. his big store we had a heart-to-h cart talk about many things which usually are left un- said, or if uttered come out only on rare occasions.
 He had faced mighty hard year, It had been a tremendous drain on him financially and physically, and he had been urged to sell out and re- tire as he had enough to live on com fortably and give his family every thing which they could possibly wish. Said he to me: q could sell, but I have put the best part of my life in this store, and have organized around it force, some of whom have grown old in it. while others are just finding themselves. and l hardly ever thought of by the to new crowd"
 I daresay there were men and women in the business who at times felt that they were unappreciated and hardly ever ever thought of by the head of the firm, and yet he had them constantly in mind and was con cerned about their interests. and was unwilling even when the burden was pressing heavily upon his shoulders to shift the weight on to an outsider for fear that possibly some of those might lose their jobs or feel lost in the new organization.
 know some firms which have had to cut down their forces and I also know that 1t was trying thing for them to let out some who were faith ful and competent, and that such ac- ton was taken only after much care and thought was given to the matter, and that it was only done in order to c@ se o keep from crippling the has } such an extent as to inn 2ef1 " life. Some of those who last ne to me to see if I could eofH thtg. but in no case was there sl na sainst their former em :
 Fse 1t more and more there IS ervice on the part of em m9.7fei FN1 I, sense of loyalty on the nF oyes, not only in the mere in the industrial worl, 4ap thers may be no signs ot tfe 9oneitions, yet in spite downs and lock- ! outs, u ing sense of de- pendenc eoor t of the owners l and the voaes
 It does 1al ose who | live and dp tesa e would need | no coaxing >se 4nEham-made products, fog gs hey are not | only building interests | but are givii nd women | who were let 3u lines a | chance to set N am praying for ry . home- | made articles.