The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-12
Dublin Minister Tells Tuesday
Club of Nelson's Cooper
ative Factory.
WORTHY PHILANTHROPIST
NELSON'S PLANS FOR HELPING
CITY IN WESTERN WAYNE is
NOT FIRST EFFORT OF KIND
HE HAS MADE.

Rev. ]. w. Caldwell, the Dublin
minister who has done SO much for
that village in the way of attracting
the attention of y. o. Nelson the st.
Louis philanthropist, TO the little
town, and who will build a large CO.
operative factory at that point, ad-
dressed the Tuesday Club last night
at the Morrisson-Reeves library on
Co operation. The entire address
dealt with the important role, Mr..
Nelson has played in helping human
kind by his philanthropic methods,
how he has cared for the poor by
placing them on a level and co-part-
ners in his business.
He stated that Mr.. Nelson shortly
after serving in the civil war and at
the age of about twenty started into
n plumbing firm in ST. Louis at a
small salary of about $40 per week
in the capacity of clerk and rapidly
rose in the estimation of the proprie-
tors. He afterward bought out one
of the partners in the business and
finally assumed control of the entire
establishment.
His First Phiiantrophic Work.
1t was about this time that he no
ticed that many of the children were
suffering in the city due to the ex-
cessive heat. He Immediately set
about remedying their condition and
at his own expense took ten thousand
of them into the country where they
could breath the pure fresh air. and
be away from the dangers of the
city.
He next noticed the condition of his
own employees. They were scattered
in all parts of the city and none of
them owned their homes. He immed
lately set about to remedy this con-
dition and the cooperative plan en-
tered his mind. He went to West st.
Louis contemplating buying ground
with the idea of establishing his fac
tory and social center. He was un-
successful in this as the real estate
dealers in that part of the city had
heard about the move he had under
contemplation and raised the price
of real estate outragiously in order
to hold him up
The Illinois Experiment.
He then went across the river into
Illinois, and bought one hundred and
twenty acres of land. Shares were
offered in the cooperative store and
factory of two kinds, the preferred
and common.
cI
start Libraries, gymnasiums and
other institutions for the betterment
of the employees and co-partners were
established. There are no churches In
the city today, but according to the
statement of Rev Caldwell there is
no more law abiding Sjty in the coun-
try than LeClaire, Ill.
The town does not have any polit-
ical government but every man re-
spects the rights of others and judg-
es his actions accordingly.
The factory and settlement has
proven highly profitable and every
working man connected with the in
stitution now owns his own home and
cares for the incapacitated workmen.
A recent quarterly dividend amount
ed to 100000.
The citizens of Dublin. the speaker
said are more than enthusiastic over
the prospects of the new industry,
and at the present time Rev Caldwell
is soliciting names of those persons
in Dublin who will want employment
in the new factory when establish
ed
1t is the idea to start the work on
the first new building at the opening
of good building weather next spring.
AS yet Rev. Caldwell nor Mr.. Nelson
know what will be manufactured III
the building nor the capacity of the
same. As interest grows in the ven
ture more buildings will be added.
The same plans will be followed
out that ruled the building OF Le-
Claire, H. All workmen will share
in the profits and will be given an
to secure homes for
paving for the same on
the installment basis.
II is probable that Mr.. Nelson viii
visit Dublin in the course of the next
few weeks to see the advantages OF
the location for himself.