The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-06-11
MEWEN Tells OF
HIS TRIP ABROAD
SECRETARY OF MINNESOTA FED
GRAFTON OF LABOR WRITES
INTERESTINGLY OF HIS TRAV-
}. ELS IN FOREIGN LANDS
e WHILE SEARCHING FOR DATA

' Secretary w. E. McEwen of the
Minnesota Federation of Labor, who
returned recently from a trip abroad
in the interest of an employers liza
bility law, writes the following inter
esting manner Of portion Of his
jaunt:
While the trains do not run as fast
In Germany as they do in England,
the equipment and Accommodations
are far superior. l have often heard
of the alleged evils of government
ownership, and how far governments
would be behind private capital in
the event of specialization of trans
portation companies, but Germany
with it's naturalization of railroads.
sets the pace of the continent for
every accommodation in travelling. I
wish every country had as good
means Of transportation as exist in
the German empire. One can ride
cheaper in this country than in any
other country in Europe.
The greatest individual iron and
steel factory in the world is located
at Essen. 1t was started by Frieder-
ich Krupp in 1911. Like most of the
worlds great industries, it had its ups
and downs, and like most of the
great original promoters Of industry,
Fried. Krupp died without realizing
the fruits of his exceptional creative
powers. 1t was left for his son to
son to complete it.
$4,000 Men Are Employed.
During the life Of Fried. Krupp his
plant was forced to close down many
times. and the sum total Of his en-
ployes never numbered more than six.
Today there are employed in the
great works Of the Krupps more than
$4,000 men. The progress of this
great institution has been wonderful.
This tells the story of its growth: In
1926 the industry employed six men:
in 1857 it employed sixty seven; in
1S46 it had work for 142; Ave years
later $50 men were on the payroll;
then in 1856 the number had increased
to 1000. From this time on it grew
by leaps and bounds, and in 1855
it's 4workmen totaled 5000. In 1873
there were 1900 employed; in 1898
there were $4,000, and today there
are $4,000. In the early development
of the industry the elder Krupp made
provision in a modest way for the
care of his sick, injured and aged en-
ployes, but today it has grown to
mammoth proportions. 1t seems that
every social desire of the working
men in this great plant is appeased.
/ visited every nook and corner of
this great steel industry. 1 was look
ing for evil. but am free to confess
that failed to find it. Some crti-
cism might be offered to the character
of housing the single men, but 1 have
seen ever so much worse in America
that any judgment I might pass could
be offset by reference to infinitely
much worse conditions at home.
Live in I~eaI Cottages
In the new portion of Krupp's town
the cottages and surrounding ap-
proach the ideal. The houses are well
built, and the lawns are kept in excel
lent condition. Lace curtains adorned
every window, and there is a typical
German cleanliness about all of the
premises.
The part set aside for the aged was
the most commendable of all. Krupu
has six hundred or more families on
the retired list. They live in the
cosiest portion of the community
The style of each Of the cottages is sc
different that the unacquainted would
think the jewellers had individually
studied out their own designs.
1t was, indeed, a pleasure to see
the old men, without worry or care
working about the gardens or en-
gagged in something to keep them
busy, and absolutely secure in theil
old age against poverty and want
There is a separate home for aged
widows and widowers, and apparently
everything is done to provide then
comforts.
Hospital Accommodation Perfect.
The hospital for convalescents. is
without a doubt, the greatest institu.
ton in the community. There can bc
nothing like it in the world The ma.
tron is middle-aged German woman
who takes special pride in her work
and when We complimented her on hel
cleanliness of the hospital her face be.