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General Garcia is dead now； but there are other Garcias。 No man who has endeavored to carry out an enterprise where many hands were needed； but has been well…nigh appalled at times by the imbecility of the average man…the inability or unwillingness to concentrate on a thing and do it。
Slipshod assistance； foolish inattention； dowdy indiffer…ence； and half…hearted work seem the rule； and no man succeeds； unless by hook or crook or threat he forces or bribes other men to assist him； or mayhap； God in His goodness performs a miracle； and sends him an Angel of Light for an assistant。
You； reader； put this matter to a test： You are sitting now in your office…six clerks are within call。 Summon any one and make this request：” Please look in the encyclopedia and make a brief memorandum for me concerning the life of Correggio。” Will the clerk quietly say；” Yes； sir；” and go do the task？
On your life； he will not。 He will look at you out of a fishy eye and ask one or more of the following questions： Who was he ？ Which encyclopedia？ Where is the encyclopedia？ Was I hired for that？ Don’t you mean Bismarck？ What’s the matter with Charlie doing it？ Is he dead？ Is there any hurry？ Shan’t I bring you the book and let you look it up yourself？ What do you want to know for？
And I will lay you ten to one that after you have answered the questions； and explained how to find the information； and why you want it； the clerk will go off and get one of the other clerks to help him try to find Garcia…and then e back and tell you there is no such man。 Of course I may lose my bet； but according to the Law of Average； I will not。
Now； if you are wise； you will not bother to explain to your “assistant” that Correggio is indexed under the C’s； not in the K’s； but you will smile very sweetly and say； “Never mind；” and go look it up yourself。 And this incapacity for independent action； this moral stupidity； this infirmity of the will； this unwillingness to cheerfully catch hold and lift…these are the things that put pure Socialism so far into the future。
If men will not act for themselves； what will they do when the benefit of their effort is for all？
A first…mate with knotted club seems necessary； and the dread of getting “the bounce” Saturday night holds many a worker to his place。 Advertise for a stenographer； and nine out of ten who apply can neither spell nor punctuate…and do not think it necessary to。
Can such a one write a letter to Garcia？
“You see that bookkeeper；” said the foreman to me in a large factory。 “Yes； what about him？” “Well he’s a fine accountant； but if I’d send him up town on an errand； he might acplish the errand all right； and on the other hand； might stop at four salons on the way； and when he got to Main Street would forget what he had been sent for。” Can such a man be entrusted to carry a message to Garcia？
“We have recently been hearing much maudlin sympathy expressed for the downtrodden denizens of the sweat…shop” and the “homeless wanderer searching for honest employ…ment；” “and with it all often go many hard words for the men in power。”
Nothing is said about the employer who grows old before his time in a vain attempt to get frowsy ne’er…do…wells to do intelligent work； and his long； patient striving after “help” that does nothing but loaf when his back is turned。
In every store and factory there is a constant weeding…out process going on。 The employer is constantly sending away “help” that have shown their incapacity to further the interests of the business； and others are being taken on。 No matter how good times are； this sorting continues： only； if times are hard and work is scarce； the sorting is done finer…but out and forever out the inpetent and unworthy go。 It is the survival of the fittest。 Self…interest prompts every employer to keep the best…those who can carry a message to Garcia。
I know one man of really brilliant parts who has nusted to carry a message to Garcia？
“We have recently been hearing much maudlin sympathy expressed for the downtrodden denizens of the sweat…shop” and the “homeless wanderer searching for honest employ…ment；” “and with it all often go many hard words for the men in power。”
Nothing is said about the employer who grows old before his time in a vain attempt to get frowsy ne’er…do…wells to do intelligent work； and his long； patient striving after “help” that does nothing but loaf when his back is turned。
In every store and factory there is a constant weeding…out process going on。 The employer is constantly sending away “help” that have shown their incapacity to further the interests of the business； and others are being taken on。 No matter how good times are； this sorting continues： only； if times are hard and work is scarce； the sorting is done finer…but out and forever out the inpetent and unworthy go。 It is the survival of the fittest。 Self…interest prompts every employer to keep the best…those who can carry a message to Garcia。
I know one man of really brilliant parts who has not the ability to manage a business of his own； and yet who is absolutely worthless to any one else； because he carries with him constantly the insane suspicion that his employer is oppressing； or intending to oppress； him。 He cannot give orders； and he will not receive them。 Should a message be given him to take to Garcia； his answer would probably be； “Take it yourself！”
Tonight this man walks the streets looking for work； the wind whistling through his threadbare coat。 No one who knows him dare employ him； for he is a regular firebrand of discontent。 He is impervious to reason； and the only thing that can impress him is the toe of a thick…soled Number Nine boot。
Of course I know that one so morally deformed is no less to be pitied than a physical cripple； but in our pitying； let us drop a tear； too； for the men who are striving to carry on a great enterprise； whose working hours are not limited by the whistle； and whose hair is fast turning white through the struggle to hold in line dowdy indifference； slipshod imbecility； and the heartless ingratitude which； but for their enterprise； would be both hungry and homeless。
Have I put the matter too stron