Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-02-09
The Conditions Upon Which Workmen
Receive lis Benefits.
An AprREcIArIvE EMPLOYER.


Mr.. Conn Ia q personal friend OF Bishop
ikesler, AMI the latter received an 10.
vitatiop to attend the reception, which
was held In the Bucklen opera house
at Elkhart, but could not avail himself
Of II because Of feeble health and tue
distance.
The special features Of the occasion
that make II interesting here are It's
connection with the successful devcl.
opment among the people OF Elkhart
OF home industry, and Its relation 10
the philsnthropIc plan inauguratei
and maintained by Mr.. Conn. The baud
instrument, factory had Its inception
back In the roe. Mr.. Conn was
then engaged In the manu-
iacture OF rubber stamps, and
occuplo! small shanty as his place
OF business. He was n musician, his
fvorite instrument being tho cornet.
knowing by his experience tho needs
OF the performer on that instrument,
HIS inventive mind evolved the rubber.
trimmed mouthplece for ooruets. He
began their manufacture, and his
business increased 10 that n few work.
men were engaged at his "shOp."
Then tbs making OF band instruments
was begun, aud by January 20, 1883,
nearly 100 men were employed at the
factory. On that date n disastrous fire
demolished the manufacturing plant,
but Its proprietor began anew anu
was rewarded with even greater pros.
perity than before.
Al n reception rendered him on
January 20, 1891, Mr.. Conn announced
10 his employees that he proposed em-
barking In a profitshnring scheme,
and stated 10 them the details
OF his plan aud the conditions
under which they could be
partakers OF It's benefits. A generous
percentage OF each years profits was
TO be- set aside for disbursement among
the employees whose conduct should
entitle them TO II. The operation Of
the plan WINS thus described by Mr..
Conn In speech ut the second annual
distribution on the 18th ult.:
our business has been more prosperous
than ever during tho last year, and ~
predicted at our last reception, tho
amount distributed among the employees
will be nearly double that given 10 them
ono year ago. There are 203 working
people employed IN tho factory, and In
accordance with tho terms proposed by
me. III OF them will participate In the
dividend distributed here tonight. Tho
first clnss viii receive $3.50 onch, the
second class 500 each and the third class
SO each. Tho entire amount distributed
ls sii,e3D, and II In y source Of great pride
10 me TO know that but - employees
arc included In the third class, which
shows an improvement In the morals OF
tho employees. Ninety eight employees
are men OF families, and iiiiy.two OF them
own their own homes. Thero were
seventy increases of wages during the
first year, and no reductions of wages
have been made for any cause Whatever
Today j ordered tho wages OF twoniy-four
more employees increased, and this in-
crease will go into effect next Monday.
since our last reception a certain news
paper In this city mas caused u misroprO-
hontation ofmy profit-sharing plan 10 be
widely circulated throughout the coun-
try. In tho ordinary meaning OF tho
word. this IL not n profit sharing plan,
and ns this paper has intimated, | AM
under no moral or legal obligation to
share my profits with employees unless
their conduct merits such recogni ion.
Al employees are paid fully as high
wages ns they would receive in any
other factory, and unloss they comply
with certain regulations they arc not on
titled TO any part OF tho amount volun-
tarily disiribuied by mo ~ "A reward for
good behavior.
Those who belong TO the first class
must have been five years In continuous
einployment; thoy must have been of
good, moral character, and have been
At.N hall "A
consists of employees OF good, moral
character who have been ono yoar
aud less than Ave years In continuous
service, .gnd also arc faithful In their
duties. Tho third class consists OF EN-
ployes who have been one year or more
~ continuous service, and who arc faith
iul In thor duiiea, but who do not do.
serve TO belong 10 either OF tho. other
classes, because of their careless habits.
IL will be seen tina, | want good behavior
~ well ns faithful servlce,gn any pcrson
familiar with the affairs Of tho band in.
hrument factory will recognize that this |
probing has brought together the most
Intelligent, eiliccnt and faithful set OF
working people over oongroga,od In q
lnlll or fac DRY. There arc others of nay
employees In the band instrument factory
VINO are deserving, but ~ they nave not |
peoh ono year or more in continuous |
sarvice they could not be permitted to |
snare In these dividends. | am often |
asked whether this plan OF distributing |
money In IN lsfac.nry, and IL intend to |
continue 10, and 10 all such inquiries |
nave Invariably answered that Il has |
neen a business proposition which In. |
ooon the mos profitable and bost OF my |
Undertakings. While II may bo looked |
upon by many M a philanthropic |
heheme, II In really good business prop |
osltlon, because IL insures a better lot Of |
ohployes, moro economy in labor and |
ma erial, moro faithful service aud better |
'MoIk hhd better results. IL IL u reward |
.nM rlghliully belongs TO all faithful
noIklhg people who give theig hcl |
Efforts 10 the Interest Of omployers, and
shy business under alSlng managed with |
skill aud enorgy will pay larger profits |
..ohlrolled by some such plan US mine
tenn. ""eV ~
Last year $500 was distributed
amo1g 81 employees. Mr.. Conn 80 de.
ftIVi Y OF credit for his magma
hltnity to those In his service.
ie Ia fortunate In being able
va v, engage In such commemorate
enofls Tor the benefit OF the working
psople' All employers are not ~
sNuhled, anu II they were, possibly but
,oW would have an inclination 10 fol.
NV ms example. The "misrepre1snta.
non OF which he complained was
prouaoly due TO the fact that he was a
ssanuidate for Congress at the Noyem.
erection. He was chosen as IA
"uhoorat, and viii have opportunity
present some OF his views In tbe
NATIONAL Legislature vvha,a a.. -, - |