The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-19
Wholesale Reduction Of
Working Force Followed
Receipt of Orders From
Company's Main Offices.
RICHMOND FACTORY
NOW OVERSTOCKED
Local Officials Do Not Know
Whether Existing Condi-
tions At the Factory Are
Temporary or Permanent.

W. anu my h<iA Va
the number employed at the Richmond
factory of the NJ. Rumely company.
We're discharged today, although of
this number $50 were offered positions
with the company either at its Laporte
or Battle Creek plants. This whole
sale reduction in the working force
followed the receipt of orders from the
main offices of the company at Laporte
and was entirely unexpected and the
big factory was a very gloomy place
this forenoon. Many of the men dis
charged have worked at the plant
from ten to twenty and thirty years
and the blow fell upon them particu-
larry hard.
The reason assigned for the reduc-
ton in the working force was the fact
that the factory was overstocked and
that the company did not intend to
increase it's stock until the condition
of crops in various sections of the
country and the demand for machin-
cry were better known. 1t is not
known whether existing conditions at
the factory are only temporary or per
manent.
Eight of the men let off this morn
ing were employed in. the Office and.
it is understood, only Ave men will
now compose the Office force.
Finance Board Controls.
Recently a partial reorganization of
the Rumely company was affected and
the finances placed in the control OF
a finance board, the majority mem
bers representing banking houses
| which financed the gigantic Rumely
merger.
This was followed by the Clark
Childs & company of New York, mem.
bers of the stock exchange, filing com.
paint with the governors of the ex.
change against William Solomon &
| company, one Of the banking concerns
which financed the Rumely merger.
The complaint was based on the head.
long tumble in the price of Rumely &
company stocks.
Stock Has Dropped.
Since last November Rumely pre-
ferred has dropped from near par to
70 and common has dropped from 95
to 32 1t is estimated that 81, 10000
of both common and preferred Rumely
stock is now held in Richmond.
I campbeIps Statement.
Supt. VIM. Campbell gave out the
following statement today: THE men
were laid off because we have been
building too fast. During the first OF
the season we worked more men than
was really necessary and have over
stocked our plant. The streets about
the plant and stock rooms of the com
not more than $50 men laid off, OF
which number eight were office men
The departments of gasoline engines
and clover hullers will be transferred
! to La Porte next week. The two de
partments employ approximately 15C
men. They have been given instruc
tions to either go to La Porte or Bat
tie Creek if they desire to remain in
the employ of the company.
Only one man of the gasoline engine
department stated that he would leave
Richmond. Most of them wish to re
main and it is probable they will OBJ
tain employment in this city. At La
| Porte, where the main factories of the
company are located, a similar condi
ton exists. Men are being laid of
there because of the large output
which was made during the first of the
season. Since last October the plar
has been working full force"
A representative from Dayton shop.
was in the city last week in an at
tempt to hire some of the shop men o.
the Gaar, Scott plant. None of the mer
would leave the factory, believing
they were sure of steady work. An of
fer of steady work at As cents pei
hour was made to them.