New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-19
INDIANAPOLIS GTRLS COMBINE.

THEY Rr-N SUCCESSFUL LAUNDRY oN TIE
COOPERATIVE ILhN
rnd,,n,rolis March Is Special. Of the mos,
succoss. business ventures In thls city Is tho prop
ertv Of 10, ~ girls who two years ?yo were wors
Ing in various launlres about the ely NJ wages
ranging from Sc t, 81 week II t. tue the concern
is a small one but Il IL entitled t. confederation ~
asnuch ns It earned last year the second OF It's
existence :, per cent net. no; counting go debts
;icuiloted and the purchase Of new mach!ncs. T.
wagon ard other necessities In the business. Tbs
cnto-p-lge Is the Cooperative Union Laundry. II
"a io!nt stock concern and under It's rules no per
son can hold more than onc-thirl 81 the capital
stock OF $500. The amount Invested q, the s'lri
WAS g. so in cash arl notes were given Tor The
purchase OF certain machines and fixtures which
we're necessary TIE orign1tars ~ N" company
were members 81 the Laundry Girls Inion who
had savel NJ each lit.le money and were abe
"a take come stock Their sponsor ana guide In ~"
formation q the company was -. r kcnn"'y' the'
preslden, Of the Central Labor Union. There hnh
previously be,n some trouble between the op"g tv"s
and the master launderors. and the central Labor
Union through Mr. kennedy had taken mp the cause
o. he girls
The latter realized that with the support ami
patronage OF the union men OF the city the laundry
business would prove highly profitable. ana he IA
duced the girls organize on the cooperative pan
one ~ the alest and most conscientious lawyers IN
the city was engagel 10 draw a. the articles OF
association Mr. Kennedy lmprcsslug It upon him
that ~ wanted the articles 50 drawn that II the
enterprise WAS a success the girls would BE- SAFE
from any one who would try to obtain a majority
OF the stock and freeze them out The attorney en-
tered into the work with the spirit. ana after
ward said ne put more thought upon th"t" articles
OF association than he had ever before given - such
n task The result IL all that was asked FOR. The
st0ckh oders reap large return on their Investment
and rs many Of them employees OF the laundry
at higher wages than in the non-rnion shops. their
incomes enable them 10 live much better and save
much than ever before.
Mr. Kennedy refused 70 take any Of the stock.
fearing he SAYS. that his interest In tn" Cr.s might
hnsIness manager IL, advised that some one ac-
success Of IL. should be selected n manager such
!, man was found and he was allowed 20 take Iart
OF the stock the control Of the business however.
remaining I'm the board ~ director selected from
among the girls themsr,ves Thc report ~ n" man
total receipts were oyer $500. with 80" OF cool
book accounts The ayrrae" number IN -" payroll
paid 50 % with overtim" ~ once ana h1ii ~" 90
u;ar rate Counting the debts Iah ana the 'rnoHai
paid for new material. the net "lrnings above The
expenses yielded profit OF over ~ per cent ton-
sderlng the busness depression. the jr.s Zee" That
Of twenty five years whosc Wages are s. week has
goo stock part Of which she has paid FOR on. of the
earnings In diviiendH. "Ae IS on 'ie way 10 ne
The stock IL not FOR sale, AMI one girl who cou'i
not work an,icably with the manager AMI who had
10 discharged stu cngs - nor ho llngs Of stock
because OF the large return on the inVtstn"n. All
Tne newly elected president Is Miss Nelie Landcrs
ard tho secretary IL Miss Siiile lcT'ram The -
Of hc cGnern n9l G%@ r work 10 tg !ns s
Oldest iaundrlcs In the city ana com"ands general
respect The Laundry is renari<Hoc one not "ny
cuie can he successfully worked. but also In that
the promoters and owners are women, not on Of
whom is much over thirty am most arc IRON
twenty twenty-five years Ol age.