New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25
SHOP CONCERTS.
uiI7cauhec Idea Which Is Keeping
Workingmen C0ntcnted and Happy.

Milwaukee, Dec. 24.-Acting the theory
That an ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure the employees of the ViIter Manufact-
urng Company have undertaken to pre-
: ribe for a possible Industrial outbreak in their
shop by keeping happy. AS a means to keeping
happy they have begun giving a series of winter
roonday concerts and vaudeville shows, with
sop employees as audiences and performers.
The theory is that the contented man is i'm
mune to the walking delegate, and with vau-
deville show at noon the men have little wish
10 hold confabs with the socialistic agitatOr who
would force strikes upon the men. At least, If
the men did not devise their shows with this
chief object, the employers are encouraging
them in their frolics, with the certainty that
the result will be satisfactory to the cOmpany's
interests
1t is an odd scene when the men group them
selves about the shop floor at noon, while some
of their number step out on the floor and give
dances or songs female representations.
After the whistle has blown and the men have
returned to their machines they are feeling
happy and In a peaceful frame of mind, while,
rs one of the members Of the company expressed
it, when they did not have these concerts a
socialistic labor leader would come in and de-
liver a speech at noon, after which the men
would think that were their enemies and
would do everything but what we wanted them
TO 90 Tor days 10 come maybe uley WouLu pay
too much attention to the nearby saloons. too.
and we won't have any drinking men"
George Brogus. head of the erecting depart
ment and Charles Schubert, a machinist, ar
ranged the first programme. which was given
when the weather became sharp that the men
could no longer take their luncheons out Of doors
Cornet solos. few coon songs and dances and
some orchestral music by a quintet of nachin-
lists comprised the first days programme and
the men are busily practising every noon for the
next show which. they say, will be the best yet
given in the shop.
The Vilter Company is builder of ice
chimes and power transmitting machinery. and
the most of its men skilled machinists and
of fine intelligence Some are cOrnetists, several
are gifted with talent the VIOLIN and the
voices of of the would earn them
place on the concert stage. When the weather
grew cool one of the boys to the accompaniment
of a whistle. stepped out lively jig on the shop
floor and that the beginning OF the shop
concerts which attracting considerable at
teution in Milwaukee
George Schubert is the star dancer of the shop
and also acts announcer and stage manager.
There is not much stage to manage, for the art
lists in the Shop Concert Company, they call
il raw are perfectly willing to do their turns
without the installation of footlights, drop cur
tains and other accessories Instead, when 1t
Is time for the show to begin. the men drag from
behind some Of the mammoth castings with
which the shop floor is covered some pieces of
plank which. when placed across a couple of
benches provide a rest for the music of the or
chestra. Then the announcer steps to the front
and the show is under way The office employees
in this impromptu theatre take the gallery seats,