The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-06-11

during tie first year of the child. ThS
children from two to four years old re
ceive sort Of kindergarten instruction
in singing, counting. object lessons anC
the like. In the school. girls and boy,
are taught together. They graduate a
[ thirteen or fourteen. and after that they
can pursue higher studies. In some O
the courses Of natural sciences many
grown-up associates join. The Fami
listere has library of over three thou
sand volumes, and books are lent to b
taken home. In the store every thing
is kept necessary for housekeeping anc
for wear. The capital invested in then
is part of the general fund; prices arr
fixed by the committee. No member il
obliged to buy at these stores, persona
liberty being the underlying principle o.
the scheme. The stOrekeepers, mostly
women, receive good salaries.
Besides a quantity of bathrooms. 8
swimming-bath is open free at all hours
and all days. Necessary precautions
against fire are taken, and a well.
organized volunteer corps of firemen
is ever ready to help. They wear
their uniforms on special occasions,
when they also act as a police. In ordi-
nary times no special supervision is
needed; the entrances of the Palace
have no doors, except those for protec-
ton in winter. The names of the resi-
dents, with the number of their apart
ment, are tabulated at each en-
trance to the building. Notice boards are
put up for miscellaneous purposes, some
being reserved for the scholastic d.
vision, on which the names of the best
pupils are published. When an apart
ment is to rent it is advertised; the
lowest price is mentioned. Offers are
then sent in, rnder sealed envelopes,
and it is let to the highest bidder.
Every year a number of festivities are
celebrated with splendor. especially
those in honor of ''childhood,' and
another in Qualification of "labor. :"
Choral societies. theatrical and musical
clubs. are fully organized, besides
which professional actors come twice a
month to give performances. 1nsur-
ance against sickness is compulsory.
Each member. male and female. has to
pay a small amount towards it. Fines,
paid in the workshops for infringement
of rules, or for breakages, help to swell
the funds. A weekly paper is issued
called lie Deroir Duty. Its endeavor
is for the civil and political equality of
both sexes and of higher national edu-
cation, and among the papers published
in its columns are some treating of the
abolition of aggressive wars-the SUBJ
stitutlon of arbitration-of the true adj
vancement of labor interests and other
interesting subjects.
The organization of the general man.
agement is as follows: The association
is governed by a managing director,
who is assisted by board of admins
tration, board of works, and body
representing the ''Familistere. These
boards are composed of associates.
elected for three years, in general as
sembly, and of the heads of the various
departments. A council of supervision,
composed of three associates, is nomi-
mated for one year at the general meet
ing. All members of the board can be
reelected. Mr.. GOdin is managing di-
rector for life: his successor by election
will be appointed for life also, but a
vote of the general assembly can re-
woke the appointment. according to the
statutes of the association. Such men,
bers as aspire to a position on one Of
the boards must have been in attend
ance on their meetings for certain
time. To be admitted they must pass
examination to insure the theoretical
and practical capacities of the candi-
L. IT,, Laal- sc al
those in responsible positions are nomi-
mated blythe director. They must also
have certain qualifications. Salaries
can only be raised on sufficient proof of
the increased ability of the worker.
The foundrics and works are divided
into number of shops and different
sections under the control of foreman.
The working day is ten hours. The
scale of payment for piece work is reg
ulated by the workmen themselves. All
objections raised on this subject are first
examined by a committee of delegates
elected by the general body of work
men. The wages range from $40 $50
frapcs) to 800 per month; of the wage
workers one hundred and five are en-
plo, ed in the foundry, thirty-six IN the
s.Familistere'' and sixteen in the
schools. These wage workers are
classed as employees. or clerks engaged
in the administration. Beside these are
the working-msn and women and ap-
prentices, of whom eleven thousand
and forty-six are at work in the foundry
and twenty-eight in the ''Familistere;"
the wages of these range from s. to $40
fortnightiy. Mr.. Godin has come to the
conclusion that the respective share OF
labor's and capitals profits is deter.
mined by and should be in proportion
to the number of dollars paid to each
under the form of interest to capital
under that of wages to labor. At the
"Familistere'' labor's share of the
profits is eight times larger than that OF
capital, as the total of salaries per an
mum is $S77, 500. while the interest held
in the concern by its financial hackers
is only $4,000.
In establishing the association, Mr..
GOdin found workmen who had served
him for a number of years, and who had
helped him to build up his fortune. He
accordingly, with view of doing JUS
tice to these, has thus divided the par
Elephants in the profits: ~ Partners, 6s
persons; (2) societaires, 95 persons; (S)
participants, 573 persons; (4) auxilia-
ries. 25S persons; (S interested, $50 per-
sons. The partners must be over twen-
ty-five years old, must have been en-
ployed five years at the familistere. and
must have at least 800 invested in the
enterprises; their share amounts to the
double of their salaries. The societaires
must be over twenty-one years old and
have worked at least three years at the
association; they receive half-share
interest in excess of the amount their