Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-01-17
Saving Money Their Object.

Under the above head The Milwau-
kee Sentinel Of last Sunday published
the following interesting article in re-
gard to unique organization in this
city, the four members of which are all
we'll known residents:
A short timeago four leading business
men OF Watertown, Wis, organized a
club for the purpose of increasing
friendly relationship and social inter
courses among its members and their
families and above all to set an exam
pie to young men and stimulate them
to save money. The mem mbership in
this CLUB is limited to four The -Four"
meet ouCe a week in the store or at the
house OF one of the members, around
dry gOods box, tobacco case or apple
barrel II front of store, or some cOzy
lawn or IN a grove outside the town.
Here they have a social chat of a few
minutes crack a few Jokes, transact
their business if any, make arrange
ments for social gathering or picnic
four times year and pay in their
weekly membership fees. All this is
done IN such an amiable, and business
like manner, that the congress of the
United States might well take an ex-
ample from the -Four" The paving of
weekly dues is the principal part of
the business. Each member pays into
the treasury % cents week for three
weeks and 30 cents for one week, so
that each member pays $125 per
month, making in all $5 paid by all the
members into the treasury AS soon
as the treasurer has S. he deposits
it in savings bank at 3 per cent
g
is In the treasury, it will be loaned TO
responsible parties at per cent. inter
est. AS the club wants to have 500 in
bank at the end of year, it will in
crease their monthly payments at the
end of the year SO that each member
will have paid in Cor saved) $25. No
member can withdraw except in ex-
treme cases of necessity with the con-
sent Of the majority. He then will re-
ceive one quarter of the capital and in
terest. The club will not take in more
than four members, although over 100
OF old and young men of Watertown
have made application tojoin it. If, in
course OF time, member should with
draw, the club may take in another
member and may not. They advise
the applicants to form similar clubs,
even among women. The name,
"CymrOdrion," is Welsh and was pro-
posed by one ofthe members, Welsh
man, but so far as the objects of the
club are concerned it has no signif-
cance.
The good example set by the -Four
of Watertown has induced four young
men of Milwaukee to form similar
club under the name of"H A L. E.. >"
the letters being initials of the names
of the mGmbers-H Harry, Alfred, Louis
and Edgar. The first meeting vas
held last week and the payments made
and deposited in a bank. The clubs
have no written constitutions or by
laws, the laws being in their heads or
hearts. Although it is not expected
that the H. A. L. E. will revolutionize
the finances of this country, yet it may
be possible that here the foundation
is laid for great mercantile establish
ment. The Cymrodrion of Watertown
has agreed to invite the first club of
this kind that is formed in Milwaukee
who can show a fund of 500 to a social
gathering at WatertOwn, when a good
time may be expected. 1t is to hoped
that the H. A. /. E. will be more sue
cessful than the.'former" "Anti-Swearing
Club" the members of which had
agreed to pay nickle into the treasury
| whenever "slang" word was used.
The proceeds were to 90 to some char
liable institution. When the time came
to distribute the funds the club could
not agree what to do with the same.