The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-04
THEY'VE GOT RID OF STRIKES.
RECORD or SOME FACTORIES IN
or NEAR NEWARK.
Clubhouses. Benefit Associations and Other
Institutions Have Brought About Coz
operation Between Employers and
pio,ed-SOcial Betterment Schemes.


There are number OF large factories in
and around Newark, where strikes never,
or very rarely occur A few years ago
only two or three Of the larger factories
managed to conduct their business in this
fashion, but within three years the num-
Der has increased rapidly, and the statistics
recently gathered by Winton s. Garrison
of Newark, chief Of the Bureau Of Statistics
OF New Jersey, show that there are fully
dozen in Newark alone that provide con-
vcniences and appliances OF one sort or
another for their employees and make the
factory life so pleasant that disturbances
among the employees are never heard of
nov,
The employers are now working Ola more
different lines than ever before in the past to
bring their employees to take a live per-
sona interest in the plant itself and to look
to il for diversions and for little comforts
and helps that were once deemed foreign
and az art from the province OF shop or
nill Tho aim of many of these employers
sco.rs to be TO gather around them corps
Of intelligent r'en and women, who
through having certain responsibilities and
advantages in and around the factory
shall cone to realize that their best inter
pStS are 10 he SeTNtN ny lot lie
good of the factory itself .Gany thousands
Of dollars have been spent by the Newark
employers to bring about such conditions
within the last half dozen years.
Iwo or three months ago MIR. Garrison
sent out 1000 copies of a circular to en-
ployers throughout New Jersey asking them
to inform the bureau whether there were
in their factories any or all Of the following
-, for ha ha,aft pf the pnnOvapa
Profit sharing, hospitals, beds in hospitals,
clHb, ooms. libraries reading ROOMS, edu-
cational classes, lectures, recreation halls.
syrnnasiuns baths, tunchroolas. rest
Rooms, shop committees. sick benefits,
burial funds, &c.
More than 500 answels were received
the majority giving useful and valuable
information. From seventy-fve firms came
answers that we're 80 interesting as to call
for further correspondence, and as a result
the statisticians were able to accumulate
a mass of information showing that fac
tories here and there throughout the State
were doing much to help their employees
to help themselves.
In commenting upon the material thus
gathered, the chief of the bureau says:
THE immense growth of manufacturing
interests in New Jersey, which in the decade
between 1890 and 1900 showed an increase
of ~ per cent.-almost double that OF any
other State in the Union-proves conclu-
sively that in New Jersey such differences
as may exist between capital and labor have
not seriously affected the prosperity OF the
State.
AT least some measure of credit for this
satisfactory condition of things is due to
the constructive work Of a practical kind
which is being done by liberal and broad
minded employers and intelligent working
mon, many Of whom are cooperating cor
daily and tremendously in carrying out
plans for making the conditions surround
ing industrial life easier, safer and pleas
anter."
1t was found that in Newark some of the
most satisfactory work for the benefit Of
factory employees was being done. In
deed it soon became apparent that the
manufacturers OF Newark were almost the
pioneers in the new order of things which
seems now to be gaining a firm foothold
throughout the entire State.
Much of the benefit that is being obtained
by the employees is through associations
that qua rantee operatives against total loss
of wages through disability and provide
a burial fund in case OF death. In some
instances these societies are supported and
managed entirely by the workingmen;
in others assistance is given by the en-
poyers, while the total expenses Of many
are borne by the employers.
In all these various enterprises" says
Chief Garrison, mo matter what the particu
lar kind or plan may be on which each one
is operated, the practical control and direc-
ton of the work they are intended % ac-
complish are entirely in the hands OF the
workingmen. Nowhere does the record
show an employer belittling the value OF
his gifts by assuming patronizing attitude
to those on whom they are bestowed, and
without exception all concerned express
the highest degree Of satisfaction with the
results SO far accomplished
In on, instance, that OF the Celluloid
Company, the company has given the
operatives, numbering something like $50
men and women, a clubhouse with full
equipment, costing at least $25 600. When
the house was finished and fitted out with
every convenience. including hall with q
stage and several sets OF scenery, bowling
alleys, billiard and pool tables. rife ranges
shower baths, library, de- 1t was turned
over to the employees.
This was three or four wears ago. and
the club has been run by the employees
ever since. The company pays the taxes
and insurance on the clubhouse, but makes
no regular provision for its support. 1t
costs about 81 ,225 year to run the club,
and the dues amount to approximately
81 500, the balance Of the running expenses
being made up by income from small fees
which members pay for participation in
the various games, &c.
An interesting work Is being done at
Ferris Bros factory, whore thirty men
and 325 women are employed In this
factory no girl is ever addressed by her |
name without the use OF the prefix Miss"
and all with whom they are brought in |
contact while they are in the factory are |
required to regulate their conduct toward |
them by the same rules Of politeness that |
are observed bySwell bred men and women |
In the ordinary intercourse Of life.
The firm keeps for the use of the girls
large stock OF umbrellas, waterproof cloaks |
and rubber shoes. These are lent them |
on rainy days, and stockings are provided |
in case the girls come to the factory with
wet feet. The girls are not required to re-
port for work promptly when the o'clock |