Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-05-21
PROFIT sIIAnING.

With the completion OF April of the
second year OF what Is known as the
Good Friday Plan Of o.operation or
Profit-shsrlng, the accounts at John
store were pade rn End
last evening the distribution took place
In the carpet department on the eecond
floor, spssssy ueIng cleaied and chairs
beine placed for the seating of the en-
p'oyee. When MIR. Wanamater entered
with Thomas Dolan, about quarter OF
O'Clock, the large number present APP
plauded, many OF the ladies waving
handkerchiefs. With Mr.. Robert 9.
Ogden and several heads of departments
seated near him on the platform, Mr..
WaLamaker introduced the distribution
with brief speech. He said:
at Is great pleasure for me to be
hero tonight. Nothing alters my interest
in this business, which for little life
time has had good deal Of the best red
blood of my heart.
~ come here especially to stand by my
partners in making good the words /
spoke TO you year ago, proposing a dis
tribution of part of the profits to such OF
you as have been in our employ for
seven years and upward.
1.-THE sum paid out in notify pay
ments to salespeople, over and above
regular salaries, Was $5S, 26s.20. With
what has been already paid and what
shall be paid tonight there will be added
SI6,0f2.30. Total, Sl0i,3i5.GS. Last
years distribution, Sl09, 1898. Total
distribution for two years, $2l3,T 1890.
ave have paid the usual salaries, and
exactly 1913, 1855 So more by this fEee-will
d stribution. Not one person, to the
best OF my knowledge and belief, would
have had any larger salaries had this plan
OF distribution not been ia force. So That
1t ia out OF our pockets into yours, and
without any obligation on our part ex-
eept good will and interest In the welfare
OF our good people. Under a system oil
monthly examinations of individual
| records all our clerks have had proper
| consideration according to merit, and
perhaps few salaries have been reduced
MS above value of services, while many
| have b en- advanced without solicitation.
This ia the present and future policy of
the house.
1.-THE double interest allowed to the
seven-year employees has been ger orally
| awaited of and wi start many savinQf
We shall do the same this year. We
allow double interest OF the principal
of these distributions.
1.-THE checks given out tonight might
all have been larger, and it Is q dlsap-
pointment to me that they ale not. You
, have 1t in your power, by your enthusi
astic and earnest efforts, to increase or
diminish what the firm has 10 set aside
for this distribution.
at is entirely out of place for any one
OF you to cay, would rather have my
salary increased instead of this check.
am sure your salary Is all that your
record shows you to be entitled TO, and
your check is all clear gain to you. When
you are entitled to mere salary you will
ct 1t, whether we make distribution or
not. None is asked or expected to stay
who is not fully paid. 1t is stupid Tor
any one to do that, and we do not want
| stupid people.
"This plan was intended to enlist more
| fully tie heart and soul of our people in
the business of the house, TO lead to
greater zeal In economy of time, faithful
ness of effort, diligence, pat.ence and
educated clerking, unity of purpose and
general interest in the extension OF our
business.
al wished to do two things by this
plan:
"First. To give actual proof OF heart
felt interest in our people,
Second. To sol.diiy the people into
one mighty and perfect force, 10 increase
| the business for the beueht OF themselves
and their employers. l...
81 regret to admit that / do not see
much that has been gained by the expert
ment we have made, except the satlsfac-
ton of making the effort and this pleas
ure there is in the giving to you share
| In our returns.
Gas stated to you last year l state
l nuain that H. Ia In 81 a q TnIIpl 1Ift n
| to treat me fairly as my duty to treat you
| fairly. If 1 do extra well by you you are
expected to rise up and do better for
me.
"There Is great deal of foolish talk
| about relations oil capital and labor. You
ket p your savings and they become capt
| tai. You are entitled TO all that such
capital produces so long as you pay cur
rent and proper wages to those who work
for you. When you have done that no
man has any right to ask or expect you
to let him have part of your profits any
more than he has to live Tor nothing In n
part of your house.
"If an opportunity offers to you to be
taken into consideration by your en-
poyer other than on the basis OF common
wages you owe something for that extra
consideration.
You are not called to add money capt.
tai to the firm you work Tor, but you may
add enthusiasm, conscience, improved
methods and leadership, and these things
count as best kind of capital and become
dollars in your pocket and mine.
VI never was more DESTROYS to put be-
fore you all proper incentives to reach the
highest levels OF character and prosperity
and happiness. 1 keep on asking the
question, what can we dos
Il want the answer for the privilege
OF trying to help my iellow-men; | want
1t for your sake, for the old friendships
and strong attachments, and for the sake
OF thousands Of other tolers like our
selves to whom we may be pioneers to
better days and real success.
mot satisfied with past results OF this
plan, and to have your help in finding
some better syotem, l shall joiu my
partners In apo ntlng out Of the seven
year force commission of three heads
of departments, three men from the ranks
OF the various parts of the service, and
three womea from different departments
of service, who shall consider this
whole subject and report their conclu-
slCne
1--WE do not intend TO do any walking
backwards, but we want to 70 forward
with all the intelligence We can com
maud, and already the road we have
started on leads toward closer relation
ship between employer aud employed"
The distribution then took place, Mr..
Ogden ca ling out the name and Mr..
Wanamaker handing the envelopes. The
list comprised those who were In the ser
vice OF the house for seven years or over
continuously, and numbered 37S EN-.