The age-herald., 1901-12-05
Lagge Amasence Hears D. Z0Isuan
 Dlscass InaustasaI Bettegment

1 of Wilmerding, Pa, where their woriEa are located, purchased Q tract of lfnd adJoiAng the factory. It was their thou,.t to give each employe an op. portunity for owning his own house and lot This tract was divided into lots, which were sold at cost. There was ready response from the employees. I'd assist the men still further, the company undertook to build their homes. By means of large conI acts at cash prices it was estimated that the empioye saved from $500 to $500 on his house. the com pany giving them this extra advantage.
 Dr. Tolman described the industrial betterment work that is being done a. Briarcliff Farms. Westcheeter County, New York. He told of the communal home for men that has been erected on the farms by Mr. W. w. Law, the own CT of the farms. It is called "Dalmeny Home" and was built by MT. Low for the 100 unmarried men who work on the farms.
 The work of the Sherwin- Williams Company of Cleveland was an interesting part of the lecture. The foundation upon which all the social betterment features of this company rest is order and clean Illness.
 Employes are encouraged in every way to use the shower bath. In the dry-color der artment, in order to guard against lead poisoning, baths are compulsory while as further safeguard each mar is provided with an entire clean change of clothing every day.
 The result of this caution is show most strilxingly in the facts that where previously the average time a man cared to work in that department was about one month, he now stays as long as wanted, and that wkere at least every other man was affected by the lead be- fore, now not more than one in twenty is affected, and ther generally only in cases where the man does not mako proper use of the system.
 Two floors of one of the buildings are used exclusively as lunch rooms and kitchen. The factory men use one room: the girls office force and foremen the otter The same fare is served in both rooms. One hot dish, either soup or stew, and tea snd coffee are served freq every day, while the balance of well selected bill of fare is served at cost. The employees bring their own dishes and are served with the free hot dishes, or they may order their entire meal-and get a good one for an average of or 10 cents.
 Dr. Tolman then outlined the plan of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company of Wilmerding, Pa, whereby each em- ploye is assisted to acquire a home at a much less cost.
 The H. J. Heinz Company of Pittsburg started in 1868 in one small room, and today they are employing 250O people. The buildings are equipped not only with every mechanical and scientific device that can be used advantageously, but the health, comfort, convenience and en- joyment of the employees receive the same careful attention.
 Thorough organization is maintained throughout the establishment. The days work is begun by an individual report at the timekeeper's office.
 When MT. Heinz was asked whether money spent in this way was good investment, his answerodwas: q have never thought of that. When we see that our employees lives are made hap pier and better. we are fully repaid. We believe in having a little of our heaven here below, and the means that we em- ployed to accomplish this end are what we call sentiment in business
 In conclusion the lecturer stated:
 You business men have not the time to work out the solution of these prob- lems. From these object lessons which have been shown, you can see that we, the League for Social Service, and its monthly review, Social Service, are fighting our battles by bringing about better feeling, 8 fact which will en- able you to carry on your enterprises with greater security and harmony. To bring about this security for you we need your sympathy and financial co-op- eration. Are you willing to give us your backing? A strike means money loss, worry, falling away of customers, and great bitterness of feeling between you and your employees. If only part of the money loss which strike entails could be used in bringing about a feeling of identity of interest between capital and labor you would be repaid tenfold for the support of this movement. The in- dustrial problems are hurrying us on to some wise settlement, or contain large elements of unrest and disturbance. It Is the part of wisdom and prudence to meet the situation squarely for the sake of discovering the principles which, adapted to local conditions, will promote social and industrial peace. In the great commercial awakening of our country, a policy of industrial betterment will be of incalcuable value in shaping forward movements. Your city should profit by the experience of other communities, who, by their efforts, are preventing the development of many industrial evils which elsewhere are so difficult to re. move. It is easier and cheaper to form than to reform"