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Newspaper Page Text
Xf 55!!555Sp?K5W MANDEL WORKERS GET "MILK AND HONEY" BUNK FOR XMAS. Mandel Brothers' fashionable de partment store, where the men and women workers are filled up with Edwin Mandel's milk-and-honey bo gus philosophy of "work hard, be thoughtful and be courteous and you'll be happy," was slightly behind Marshall Field & Co. in its Christmas "present" to the employes. In Marshall Field's, John G. Shedd, "Dapper Jimmy" Simpson -and the rest of the "protectors" of the Field millions paused long enough in the counting of the profits of their most successful year to order typewritten letters of thanks sent to their em ployes. But at Mandel's it was dif ferent. Eddie Mandel, Denny Kelly and the rest of the bosses got so excited about the shower of gold that fell on"! Mandel Bros, that they forgot all about their employes until the "gelt" had been salted. It was also Mandel Bros:' most successful year as far as profits were concerned. But the hundreds of Mandel em ployes got no share of these profits. They got no bonus, no raise in sal ary. They received nary a word of thanks. But maybe Eddie and Denny didn't have the. nerve to kid their employes by sending them a letter of thanks. However, hearing about the letter stunt tried by Marshall Field's and other stores along State street, Ed die and Denny decided to wish their employes a happy New Year. In the Jan. 3 issue of the "Mandel Bros.' Store News," in which Eddie Mandel and Kelly spring their Elbert Hub bard bunk, we find the following: THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON prompts us to express to the mem bers of our organization our appre ciation of their co-operation in 1916 and every good wish for their happi ness during the New Year. MANDEL BROTHERS v Pretty things isa't itl ut even Mandel and Kelly must have realized the irony of it. For right under it we find a happy little sermon on "The Value of a Smile." Before the anger of the employes is given a chance to express itself the employes are told: "A pleasant smile adds more to per sonality than any single attribute. It is an invitation to further acquaint ance, a hostage to cheerfulness." And also: "Cheerfulness of counte nance is a great grouch-'killer." You cannot develop discontent behind your own smiling face, neither can those within sight of your smiling face successfully nourish a grouch to maturity." Very good, Eddie. It reminds us of the philosophy of Roger Sullivan, po litical boss: "If you have to turn down a fellow, bull him alorig, slap him on the back, inquire about the family, and hell go away swearing by ypu' There are plenty other kinds of ad vice handed out to the employes in the "Store News." All sorts of schemes are suggested so that the Mandels might make as much money in 1917 as they did in 1916. But no hint that the employes are to getany more substantial reward next Christ mas than they got in the Christmas time that has just slipped past. A woman employe of Mandel's gave us this information, which has been found correct: "Recently some of the State street stores agreed to open for business at 8:30, instead of & a. m. Mandel's added an extra string to the notice they passed around. The employes all have to be in their departments ready for the 8:30 rush at 8:20. The names of those coming after 8:20 are taken and sent to the "front office," Those coming after 8 '30 are sent home. They are, of course, docked for 'the day "Now, don't you think it unreason able to compel us to sit around ten fciS'itt"