Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-07


The Rev. Mr.. Gamble Walker had been
in America only "A hours. He had spent
his one day in talking with workingmen,
and he already had an assorted collection
of very clear cut impressions.
II want to meet your American work.
ingmen," he said. 'All my. knowledge of
Industrial conditions in America has been
gained through books I've come over now
to see for myself what you are doing"
The American worgingman probably
will not know the Rev Mr. Gamble
Walker when he does meet him, but the
British workingman could tell his Amerl-
can cousin great many interesting
things about the reverend gentleman, and
Americans interested I'm sociological prob
lens will recognize his name. He is.
young man. with possibly 80 years to his
credit. Most of them have been years de-
voted to the problem of social and indus-i
trial betterment. He has made an earnest
study of the conditions of the working
class in Great Britain and on the conti-
nent. He has fought the battle of the
slums in the worsth quarters of English
towns and he is today one of the leading
spirits in the movement for social and
Industrial betterment In his own country.
He has absolute charge of the social
welfare of Port Sunlight, the Cheshire
settlement, founded by, the Levers, the
British soap manufacturers, which is the
the Industrial community.
81 hear you are doing some fine things
In the way, Of improving labor conditions,
and that some of your wealthy employers
are building up very complete communi-
ties in connection with their works.
want to study all of il. II any have any
thing good that we do not have at Sun
light, we will have IL when go back. But
1 don't believe you have. Sunlight has no
rival yet. IL e6
THE natural attitude, or rather the ac-
CURED attitude Of the workman toward
the employer said Mr.. Gamble Walker,
els one of suspicion and distrust. That
can't be overcome in moment. Mr.. Lee
yer went through all that phase at Sum
light, but he had made up his mind what
was right before he took a step and hav-
ing started in he couldn't be turned from
his purpose. He is a man of tremendous
strength and of logged persistence. He
said 20 himself, 4 am succeeding in bust
ness. To what do L, owe it? To my men.
What return can I. make them? He an
swered that question by Sunlight.
''Now, ten years have gone by. He has
what is undoubtedly the most contented
and happiest set of workmen in the world.
The very men who made trouble at first,
who thought they were being fooled, are
the frankest in acknowledging that they
were blind fools. There are few grum-
blers in the community. There are al
WAYS men who If you give them boots
will kick you with them, but these chron-
ic malcontents are 50 few that they do
not count in any way
"Appreciative?. They are. / know them
through and through and i give you my
word that they are happy, contented,
eager to help on the welfare of the com
munity. They would do anything. rather
than lose job at the works. Sometimes
tr[A nsrf
give all the children good elementary
schooling and supplementary work in sci
ence. French shorthand, wood carving,
color designing and, other technical
branches. Sometimes there is not place
i'm the works for a lad, or such work does
not appeal to him, or he has boys ad-
yenturous longing to get out and see the
world. 1t is all right for him to go. We
give him all the aid we can. Almost in
varia bly, lac soon writes for a place on our
waiting list and he 1comes back. The
work world Is a terr1elea surprise to-a lad
who has been Brought UP in that COM
munity and believes that Justice fairness,
decency and comfort are the rule OF the
world.
why, l. tell you that life has written
itself on the faces of our people until they
look quite different from the people of
other villages. They aren't all saints, but
there is certain content in their faces
and cheerfulness in their manners, Their
nerves aren't worn TO shreds.
1--WE do not know what labor trouble
means at the Sunlight works. The men
are satisfied and intensely interested in
the welfare of the business. The social
affairs of the village are entirely inde-
pendent of the works. We never sit down
and ask How will this affect the works.
The question isn't even in the background.
1t doesn't exist. The works pay fair
wages. The village furnishes good work
men, There is all the connection There
are s4OO. 900 q million. dollarsl sunk in that
village and not penny's return is asked
from it, All that Mr.. Lever asks is that
rents shall be arranged so that they will
lust cover taxes repairs and mainten-
ance. The village is 'self-supporting. That
is all. There are 600 houses, every one
picturesque, every one planned with the
keenest attention to problems Of SANTA
tion and comfort. The architecture is va
ried Each house has its lawn and gar
den."
sAre the rents reasonable?" asked the
reporter Mr.. Gamble-walker laughed.
mo. they are easonable-unreason-
ably low. Houses with parlor, kitchen,
scullery, pantry, four bedrooms and
bathroom rent for shillings a week.
That's about S1.25 in your money.
cot course, all our. workmen don't live
in the village The works employ about
5000 workmen. Many Of them live IN sur
rounding parishes or in Birkenhead or
Liverpool. We have a number of single
women, and almost all of them live with
parents, who work. outside of Sunlight.
The, girls live at home and come to their
work, but all employees of the works have
a right to the social privileges of the
village-to the reading rooms, bowling
alleys, billiard rooms gymnasium, swim
ming pools, clubs, classes, entertainments.
etc. We have just built a 100000 $10O,OOO)
restaurant particularly for the benefit of
the girls who come from a distance and
need a midday dinner. They pay for 1t
because we find that a thing paid for is
always valued above a thing given, no
matter how small the amount may be;