The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-03-12
SHARES PROFITS
WITH WORKERS
n. 0. Nelson Puts New Co.
operative Plan Into Effect.
n TELSON o. NELSON, st. Louis
M millionaire manufacturer, in a
j recent interview told of the


progress he had made in two
years in his new task of trying to reor-
ganize the political and social fabric by
starting community, groceries on the
profit sharing plan and ultimately turn
ing the ownership of them over to the
grocery clerks and customers.
This is Mr.. Nelson's second big effort
in this line His first big work started
about thirty years ago in st. Louis,
where every man now employed in his
factory is q stockholder.
Nelson in carrying out his new task
set aside $3.50 900 from his personal for
tune. He said he never expected to get
a cent of this back. With this money
he began two years ago to establish
groceries in various sections OF New
Orleans, until today there are forty
nine of these stores, including two
meat markets. He installed novel
system of profit sharing and stock TAX
ing, whereby the forty nine stores he
has acquired will eventually belong to
his clerks and customers.
In his New Orleans stores Mr.. Nell
son has started plan of giving each
employee a certain per cent Of the
profits. When the books are balanced
at the end of each year 20 per cent Of
the profits is given to the employees.
One half of this amount is invested in
stock for them. The men are graded
by their salaries and given their share
70 In
In stock. The remainder of the profits
go into the surplus fund. Nelson keeps
nothing for himself.
All customers pay cash for their
goods Stock is for sale to customers
at So per share. BY paying cash Gus
toners get the goods much cheaper as
cash eliminates many expenses. The
money thus saved by customers can
be invested by them in stock, which
eventually will return dividends.
Food supplies, above all else, should
be regarded as a public utility" said
Mr. Nelson. 1T Is the most important
thing we have to deal with in this
practical world today. | do not be-
lieve In the people owning the stores
through any arrangement with the
government, but by personally owning
stocks in them.
81 believe every man is his brothers
keeper We should live in harmony.
The Lord has provided amply for all,
and his goods should be equally pro-
vided. My system will help to accom-
plish this If other large concerns will
follow In my steps the world will soon
be as the Lord intended it should be-
1.-THE surplus fund we have is for
building more stores as the stock of
the old ones is sold and for caring for
the employees of the establishment,
If a man is sick his salary goes on
just the same, and he is cared for. His
medicine is given him, and If 1t is nee
essary he is sent to another climate to
recuperate.
1--WE have social halls where the Gus
, toners and clerks meet and play. Mu-
sic is furnished, and those who wish
may dance under conditions which
are above reproach.
THE customers are taking advan-
tage of the chance to buy stock even
faster than Phad expected The stock
is sold only to customers in the vicin-
ity of the store and cannot be trans
ferred except to the advantage of all
| concerned"
Mr.. Nelson told of having conceived
the idea of a cooperative system of
| ownership about thirty years ago He
started small manufacturing plant
| at Leclaire, suburb of Edwardsville,
III. Every man employed in the plant
| was stockholder. All prospered.
They began widening their field of
endeavor, until now they also operate
factories in ST. Louis, Noblesville, Ind.
and Bessemer, Ala. Their property,
Mr. Nelson said, is valued at more
than 100000, of which $250,000 is
owned by the workingmen and the
customers. The plants manufacture
all kinds of metal fixtures, bathtubs,
pipe and marble slabs. The workmen
and the customers get all the profits
on the stock except per cent on the
| stock they do not own.
IF steel, oil, powder and other trusts
would adopt my plan," Mr. Nelson
| said, "all the people would get their
dues, poverty would be impossible and
| our prisons would be practically empty
| There would be no wars, and the
world would be an ideal place In which
| to live