1674-15 Charles S. Krom The Flamingo •
Feb. 6, 1929
Memo to Yr. Carl G. Fisher:
About an hour after you telephoned me this morning regard-
ing the watchman I called at your office to have a little talk with
you and was sorry to find you out.
In your note of the 5th regarding the pool you refer to our
guests as a lot of loafers who have no business around the pool. If
the pool isn' t for guests who is it for? Immediately after your
phone this morning I fired the watchman. I will agree with you that
he was not very intelligent but he had worked for Fred Hoerger three
years and we felt pretty certain he was honest. I tried half a dozen
sources to get a man for the job and this fellow seemed to be the
safest bet I could find in a hurry.
Our bungalow occupants are all privileged to use the drive-
way. W. A. Fisher, Lou Wasey and other bungalow occupants have
callers whom they expect to have the same privilege and many of our
annex guests have their cars pick them up at the annex entrance and
use this driveway. No one could learn who they all are in a day or
two and rather than offend them by stopping them everytime, I instmucted
the watchman to let any people who looked all right drive around this
way but not to •ermi a lone to stop and nark. I am the fellow who
has to ca er o our guests' wan s an. am in a position to know how ea-
sily some of them are offended. I am just as anxious as you are to,
keep the pool exdlusive and free from hangers on. It is not and has A
not been 'a hanging out place for boatmen, chauffeurs or hotel help as
you infer.
This is my tenth winter in your organization and during that
time I have given you honest, conscientious and efficient service. I
am on the job from 7:30 in the morning until anywhere from 11:30 • to
1:00 o 'clock at night, seven days in the week. We have plenty to
worry us with a couple hundred employees and more than three hundred
guests. Its a strenuous job and one which takes a lot of one ' s
mental and physical vitality. I am working for your interests every
minute and while I don' t profess to hit 100% all of the time I do con-
sider the Flamingo as well managed as any hotel in Florida . I may
possibly be a bit thin skinned but for the past two years I have had
about all the uncomplimentary notes and comment and cursings out from
you that I care to have . I am perfectly willing to be called down
when I deserve it but when one is going at top speed and pretty well
tired out and giving everything there is in him for your interests it
hurts a lot to get cursed out because of some trivial thing which does
not just suit you. I always have and as long as I am in your
employ shall do my best to carry out your wishes but you or anyone else
will never get the best out of a loyal and faithful employee by con-
tinually riding him. If my services are not satisfactory I
wish you would just tell me so as I would not want you to keep me
around if I were not giving satisfaction and value received. If my
services are satisfactory then I wish that instead of cursing and bawl-
ing me out at the slightest provocation you would call my attention
to things that don' t suit you in a little more civil manner - I don't
expect to be coddled or catered to but a few less harsh words and a
little more consideration is all I ask.
•
Py �/U fi9'�e
If you think a little talk would be likely to clear the at—
mosphere for either one or both of us I am at your service,
Very truly,
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1
February 8, 1929.
Mr . Chas. S. Krom.
I have your long winded letter this morning. You
must have been very mad when you wrote this letter--
otherwise you would not have taken so much time with
a. stenographer and tyl:ewriter to inform me you were
,very sore.
I an quite sere I novcs• cursed you out, but I did curse
on the general conditions and will continue to do se
whenever I see fit.
There sn no qu
estion about the rexs honesty but there
is no doubt about the man being dirty, also ignorant
and having no instructions. Ly idea 'or a man foa this
job would be a man who is very politeand rho will •
quickly recognize the people who belons inside the lines.
1 think our cottage holders themselves would appreciate
someone on the job to keep loafers out. Tile Nautilus has
a man on the job who handles the job thor ughly• and per-
fectly and nobody resents his halting cars coming into
the private ;rounds. -. The loafers I refer to are yacht
• engineers and captains and people who are really loafers.
Certainly our guests are praitted.
There is no necessity for a conference regarding this
misunderstanding. If you are not satisfied with the
a.anner in rhioh I call your attention.to these various
things I see about the place, of course we can separate
as good f r.iendeb •
•
CGF:T,
•
P.S. Have referred to you many times as our "Star Hotel ry Jv.!
tanager. " Have been complimented malty times regarain
your management: but just the same, I think your selea- y:l
• tion of this man we refer to for this particular job was
d-lmn poor and you would be better off to have nobody there.
.*:.. -� -,4- 'f, -�Girr• r „� , ri. 5.: s Y 5 .
iT
s_ tit
CGF:T