The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-04-20

NEW YORK, April 16.-Four hum
dred members of "The Get-Together
Club of this city sat down to- a one
dollar dinner few nights ago, in Mad
ison Square Garden Concert Hail. and
after the dinner, in ten-minute- speech
es, told what, as employers, they are
doing to improve the conditions of their
employed. +
The Get-Together Club of New York
lis unique in many ways. 1t is composed
Of about one thousand earnest, thought
full business men who realize that this
age is confronted by great social and
economic problems which demand the
careful consideration of every Citizen
those that feel that no one man, or set
Of men, or party, has all the truth
necessary to solve these problems, but
who do firmly believe that there is a
solution, and that from free and open
discussion by men Of divers views, yet
having a common purpose, that solu-
ton may be evolved.
The club has no other organiza ton
other than the committee of direction.
Membership consists simply in receipt
of an invitation, attendance at the
meetings, and payment for the dinner
cover.
This club has grown so rapidly and
the interest in it's work has increased
to such an extent that it is probable a
home will soon be established-a social
center headquarters-in New York, and
the scope of work will be enlarged 10
embrace other cities in which branch
clubs of the "Get-Togethers, No. H. of
this city will be organized. 1t is also
proposed to have nonresident men,
bership fee of $500 year. This will en-
title business men from outside the
city, who are members, to the privileges
of the club house in New York and al
low them to attend the meetings and
dinners of the club in this city.
In other words, it will be sort of
twentieth century masonry between
the business men and manufacturers
throughout the entire country and the
business men of the great metropolis of
the United States. 1t is proposed To
make the Get-Together Club of New
York the social and industrial better
ment clearinghouse Of the country.
Foreigners, business men from abroad
will at the Get-Together Club House
in New York have a home and receive
valuable information and directions as
| to how to find and visit the prominent
business centers and manufacturing
places Throughout, the country. A for
Isign memhe hershipl! ksstssl s;a,
.ssa fqly lllll j.
u IS 4, dent tEsi
ship and AL Ito the purpose OF the; club,
should address DR.. VIM. H. Tolman
secretary for the League for Social Ser
vice, 2S7 Fourth Avenue, New York
An innovation at this dinner was the
presence of ladies. The boxes in the
hall were filled with fair ones. Miss
Helen Miller Gould, who is deeply in
terested in industrial betterment, with
a party Of friends, occupied a box. The
Prince Enrico Ruspoli of Rome, with
| friends, was also in box.
Mr.. Bayard Cutting, a member of the
executive committee of the New York
Chamber of Commerce, presided.
Nine representatives of great indus
tries employing over 250,000 working
people gave testimony on the theme OF
Industrial Betterment as to what EN-.
ployers are doing to improve the condi-
| tions of the employed. 1t was plainly
shown by the speakers that the work.
ingman in their employ is now elevated
above the machine, and that in thus
improving his condition the results
tai, labor and society,".
In opening, Chairman Cutting SAID
the. problem to be discussed appeared
to him to be how best to help employes
to help themselves, and yet to so sti1nu.
Flate and aid them that they might nU
lose stheir self-respect. r.. =.
:"0ur people have mot been rniggardly
Fin their benevolence' or charity, but OF
I:the higher problems-of the more alb
/ struse questions Of practical philan-
thropy, love to man-swe have only just
Tbegpn. to think. Wear still: cropping
and while we grope' there comes upot
/ us g. consuming sense:of the: vital ne.
cessity or an intelligent solution Of
Fthese problems-problems which may
be said to group themselves around
this proposition: How shall we bes
/ help a man to help himself? I do not
believe any self-respecting workingmar
or woman wants anything for nothing
They want many things, but the ques:
Etion is, how can we provide; those
things they need in such a form. thai
L they can pay for them or give some.
thing in exchange? Now, that, I, take
lit, is the first fundamental point of in
II dustrial Ebetterment; the self-respect o
the receiver. What the gentlemen whe
are to speak tonight are going to- tel
you is, how in certain ways to draw tn,
line between practical philanthropy ant
unwise and injudicious benevolence.''
The speakers each told what was be
ing done for the working people in tn,
concerns they represented r4 sg#.s
Walter w. Law, Jr., OF: the Briarclif
Farms said that the 800 people employed
on the farms In Westchester count.
constituted a. complete community
They have well-fitted houses, will
electric light, a. school house., and J;
common home for. the seventy-two un
married men employed .Sl. 4, sSs== sSSs=
s.By our system Of treating the mel
kindly and caring for them in ever,
wayne have avoided strikes, and ar
proving that industrial bettermentap pay
the employer as well as the employe.
George H. Daniels, general spassenke