The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-09-18
THE ELENsBuRG

with poor tools, if there was always a
job waiting for every rainy day, II the
only days got off were Fourth of July
and circus days and half of each Sun
day, if my father selected and bought
my clothes for me, ifmy spending mon
ey was doled out a dollar at Il time as a
gift and not because | had earned it
and it was due me, IL couldn't 20 out
with and be like other peoples young
folks that were no better off than my
people If had nothing more interest
ing to boy to read than the county
paper, the Bible and the almanac, If no
effort was made to make my home the
best place to stay, il my father never
let me know the condition of his bust
ness and never consulted me in regard
to it, il he was dissatisfied with farm
ing and said it was a poor business, in
short, II he treated me like a hired
hand without the wages, think
should leave just as soon as thought
could "paddle my own canoe"
think one of our greatest mistakes
is that we keep about five years behind
our children's growth. | mean that
their knowledge, observation and
Judgment is about that much greater
than we give them credit for. RespOns
Utility should be put upon them early.
| have made it n practice after my boys
were twelve, to pay them enough
wages to buy their clothes and for
spending money and made them do
their own buying. They sometimes
made mistakes of course, but thought
it better to make mistakes with dimes
than to make them latter with dollars
! through lack of experience.
| have four sons. The eldest is
twenty-five and the youngest sixteen.
Three are at home and all seem to be
contented and enthusiastic farmers.
believe the fourth would be had | 10
time hit on the plan that | adopted
later | will not recommend my plan
as the best for every one, and there
may be conditions where it would be
impractical, but it may serve as a
pointer and [ will give it for what it is
worth.
Before we adopted our plan these
were the conditions: | had been Civ
ing the boys share of our wheat crop.
and observed that they were more in
terested in this than the other crops.
They each had some stock and were
gradually getting more which had to
he fed at my expense, making fair
adjustment difficult. We did this:
We appraised everything on the farm
theirs and mine, and put it all into a
general stock, each taking shares OF
stock at $40 each for what he put in,
that is, we formed a stock partnership.
each share of stock to have one vote 10
determining the policy and manage
ment of the company. We elected
manager. secretary and treasurer.
Each Of us draws a salary that is paid
with all expenses by the COMPANY. If
there is profit at the end of the year
it is divided among the members &C
cOrding to their stock. 1t is agreed
that the manager shall plan and direct
the work, do the buying and selling
etc, but in matters of importance he
shall consult with the members and
give each patient hearing, and ii an
agreement is not reached vote OF
STOCK on the matter shall be final. AS
to salary each one gets what he could
get for the same work elsewhere, and
if he loses any time it is deducted.
This arrangement has been in opera
ton nearly two years and SO far is very
satisfactory. The boy that went away
enlisted in the navy and has year yet
to serve. He also is member of our
company and while we don't pay him
salary be owns some stock and is send
ing two.thirds of his wages home to
buy more. We made him over 20 per
cent a,t year. He is headed for the
farm as soon as he gets out and has n
good job and Il good Investment wait
ing him When he gets home If things
are still tisfac'o DRY it is our intention
20 incorporate under the state laws.
want to say in this connection that
while my girls are I'll boys if the
weren't they should have place in the
company, for their work is quite as
Important as ours, aud would be just
IS anxious to keep them at home.
J. y. .IEWETT.
TEA