The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-25

United States. looking to industrial in1-
provement and the elevation OF working
men, numerous establis hments have been
visf.es. IN which practical workings 81
s:.ca plans have been observed and from
wn:ch accounts concerning them have been
secured
Some Of the. measures noted are club
organizations In which employees are band
ed together for social, educational recre-
alive and other purposes incident 10 su t.
associations: the encoura cement OF ply
Seal culture by means OF gymnaslut1ls ana
so on. the improvement Of intellectual
conditions by means Of free lectures, libra
ries and the Ike; the Increase OIL e ducd-
tional efficiency through industrial ana
manual training schools; the advance
ment Of spiritual life by means OF sun
day schools and general religious work,
the cultivation OF musical taste and ability
by means of concerts and musical enter
ta.Iments for employees, and the encour-
agement of musical clubs and organiza-
tons among them: the promotion OF I'M
proved social conditions by means Oh So
cal gatherings. summer outings, meeting
places, and game rooms for employees,
banquets. dances, etc.; the sharing of
profits with employees; the promotion Of
employees personal interest in the success
full cond, of the business by encourage
ing and assisting them to purchase shares
in it, thus, IN effect, taking them into
partnership: the Improvement OF domestic
conditions by means Of improved dwellings,
instruction il sewing, cooking, and house
keeping, and IL landscape and kitchen gar
dening and the exterior and interior deco
ration of homes; the care for employees
Health and comfort by means of bathing
facilities, dining and lunch rooms, the
furnishing CT hot lunches to female en-
playes, arc by improved sanitary con-
struction and appliances; the care OIL SICK
and disabled employees and their families
by means of free insurance, free medical
attendance or hospital facilities, and by
the encouragement Of beneficial organs
cations; the cultivation of thrift through
savings bank facilities, building assocla-
tons, or provident organizations, and by
the giving of prizes for valuable sugges-
tons of employees and rewards for faith
full service or tue manifestation OF zeal
and interest in their employment; the rem
dering of financial aid TO employees IN
cases of hardship or distress; the mani
festation of interest in the personal at
fairs Of individual employees, the cultiva-
ton of cordial and even confidential re-
lations with them, and the promotion OF
their welfare in all possible ways.
As civilization advances the condition
of the workingman necessarily improves.
This improvement is due first of all to pub
lie sentiment, and largely to the work of
labor organizations. AS the masses be-
come more and more educated there is
more and more demand for the COM
forts of life and for such things as in
ages past were regarded as luxuries which
the rich only might enjoy, and society
upholds the workingman in his demands.
The workingman is no longer regarded as
a machine He insists upon being recog-
nized and he is recognized as a human
being with rights and privileges which
must b, respected. He is climbing up
every day in the scale and his condition
Is improving all the time. This is to be
regarded not only as a result of modern
civilizati ton, but as one of the surest signs
of advancing civilization.