The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1921-02-19
A Girlless
System
By T. B. ANDERSON


ees." exclaimed old Hugh Bertrand,
and he stood stock still viewing his
employer. Mark Seaton, with the stare
Of startled and perplexed man.
.That Is the order" answered the
latter tersely. "and 1t Is to be put In
effect within a week."
Hugh Bertrand made no reply. He
was an under superintendent of the
town plant devoted to 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 a
tyro and dlsciplinarian and anticl-
pated trouble. He decided to make a
suggestion for the general good. In
u little speech to his fellow employees
a week before the arrival Of Seaton
he said:
ave are happy, contentcd group
of friends and have got accustomed to
easy. comfortable ways In our lnbors
here. but the world moves and we
ress. The new management will prob.
ably install a time clock and 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"
rnn't unIorvt IN yvhnt Mr. Son.
ton IL driving at. Discharge the fe.
male employees Why. that simply
over:urns 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.
ri heard that Mr.. Seaton was what
is called woman hater before he
came here" she said. "Only few
days ngo. friend told me that
he overheard Mr.. Seaton telling a WIS.,
ltIng friend that he did not believe In
keeping women around. He said all
they thought OF was face powder. hair
dressing and vanity. I fancy he must
have been crossed in love. father"
II don't know" answered Bertrand
gloomily. but he can't be human not
to see that the feminine part Of our
help elevates our men workers. has
refined them TO degree and has made
work actually agreeable. ! don't know
how II may be In the city where the
help Il constantly changing. but here
we ARE like q family. well brought up
together.
1t WINS followed out md the girl
less system duly inaugurated. There
WIS q parting Of lovers. Of sisters
even OF husbands and wives. for in
some instances whole families Ind
worked together. The places Of the
girls md 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. unevent.
fui resting period.
Grace Bertrand came In close con-
tact with Mr.. Senton because Of the
fact that she hnd always headed the
girl employees ms n sort of leader.
Many went to work In other towns.
and 1t was her province to visit Sea-
ton md secure recommendation for
them. II somewhat softcned hi, hard
nnture to realize the helpful. unselfsh
nnture Of the businesslike. sensible
Young girl. who expressed no overt
criticism rs to his drastic exnction.
but stIIl made him feel That he was the
means of causng confusion, and In
some cases distress In scattering
community Of girls who Ind led
safe. happy life under the old menngc.
Within a month there brooded over
The plant n sense Of disruption and
discomfort that Senton could not help
hut notice. Many Of the expert work.
crs. fcnring other changes and Infested
with n sense OF Instability. resigned to
seek new employment. Nobody liked
the new proprietor. and he felt II.
Several times when he met Grace on
the street he engaged her In apparent
~ casual conversation. but gradually
brought II nbout TO the labor situation.
md the results OF the innovation he
Ind 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 discerned was
not beneficial to the general group.
In n mor>ey way. too. there was .
pnipabie retrogrcsslon.
One morning Grace Bertrand be-
cnme the heroine Of the town. Her
father out Of friendship and sympathy
had tnken the place Of the Waterman
of the plant. who had serious illness
In his family. Al eleven o'clock. Grace
ran over to the works to take him a
wnrm lunch. She found him bound
and gagged. and coterie Of burglars
In the Office striving to open the safe
which at that especial time Of the
month held an unusually large amount