Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-24
STETSON employees
GET $S5O,OOO AND
PROMISE OF WORK
President of Big Firm Dis
pels Calamity Rumors
After Distribution of Gifts
Among Hatmakers.

Governor-elect Martin q. Brumbaugh
helped Santa Claus In his hardest task OF
the season today BY attending the annual
son Company, in the stetson auditorium,
when $4,000 in Christmas gifts was dis
tributed among employees.
Doctor Brtimbaugh fairly bubbled over
with the Yuletide spirit, and spread his
good humor among the crowd SO that the
auditorium rafteTs rang with the appre-
oiatiVo cheers of the assembled workers,
who insisted upon hhillng the honor guest
as 'our next President" and refused to
allow him TO depart from the building
until the biggest box OF candy In Santas
bag had been bestowed upon him.
"A few persons are trying to spoil our
Christmas by predicting hard times"
said the Governor-elect. III any OF you
md a pessimlst capture him and bury
him alive, face down. so that II he tries
TO dig himself out he'll only get In
deeper"
J. Howell Cummings. president of the
Stetson Company. who preceded Doctor
Brumbaueh In his Christmas speech, had
brought every worker cheering to his
or her feet by saying that no matter
What happened in the way of business
depression In the coming year not one
employe would be discharged.
A WELCOME GREETING.
What finer Christmas message could
you getH" asked Doctor Brumbaugh, re-
ferring to this promise. 'In these times
when men who think cannot help looking
into the year TO come with apprehension
you are told that, come what may, your
Jobs are secure. Is this not a wonderful
tribute to you. to this great organization
and to the city of Philadelphia"
Mr.. Cummings statement relative TO
tile retention OF all workers in the COM
ing year was due TO rumors which, he
said had recently been circulated in the
plant TO the effect that on January 1
lOOO or 1000 workers were to be DISCHARGED
These rumors are entirely baseless.n
ne said No employe will be discharged
except FOR cause. In case the COMPANY
tails 10 secure enough orders to keen ali
or you on fun time we shall arrange a
plan which will Inconvenience you to the
smallest possible degree"
Mr.. Cummings said that despite the
general hard times. employees OF the COM
pany had not suffered, Deposits in the
company bank were larger than at any
previous time. he declared.
John Gribbel, president of the Union
League, was another honor guest.
AuuIesbeb were maze Dy the guests and
after the speechmaking there was sing
Ing of popular songs and a general
entertainment. The final act was the
distribution of gifts, the largest number
OF gifts given out by any Arm In or near
this city, perhaps larger than any other
concern In the country.
The largest single item In the list "a
$4,000 In bonuses 70 faithful employees,
In addition to this there will be sii 400 |
In sold TO apprentices and heads OF de- |
partmenta, i05 shares OF stock In the |
John b. stetson Building and Loan AS
ISOLATION, each share worth 5000 and
"a shares OF the John b. Stetson Com |
pany's common stock, the present mar |
ket value Of which is $3.50 per share.
More than $4,000 pounds OF turkey |
also were distributed, virtually every |
married man In the employ OF the COM |
pany thus being provided with the piece |
dc resistance OF his Christmas dinner |
There were s25l birds. To the Girls
were given 1850 pairs OF gloves and
1000 pounds Of candy Other gifts total |
lls hats, IS watches and 90 chains.