The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-12-28
HOW PREACHER M'GILL'
PUT LUMBERMEN OF.
OLYMPIA ON THEIR feet
nv JACK JuNoMEYER


OLYMPIA. Wash. Dec. ga
"to~ can we hope 20 make
success OF a shlnglo plaNt which
its owner, practical mill op.
orator, had 20 shu, down ss
losing proposl,lonf"
II was with such doubt that
the former employees Of tho
Mccain mill hero faced the
Raising Of $1,000 cash 70 oper
ate the establishment on q CO.
operative basis
This Il today one OF n dozen such
mills being run In tho state OF
Washington by former employees
with marked success
TN tell you how" encouraged
the Rev Oscar McGlll. OF Seattle.
the logger preacher. who started
this great project.
he Outlines the Plan
AS employee you received a
stated scale OF wages. Your ON.
ployer could not cut them. no mat.
tor what the condition OF business.
When he couldn't or wouldn't meet
payroll he had TO shut down.
But now. as eo-operRtiv. man
Rger.w workers OF tho mill you will
buy your materials first. for cash.
act aside fund 20 meet your debt.
and afterward divide whatever Is
left among all. This may DO 81
each. or $40. according to oondi.
tons. When times arc good you
make n good profit. When they are
slow you may make a bare living.
BUT you WILL MAKE A
LIVING. II IL better than idlenenn.
even n you can PAY YOUR.
SELVES but half OF what you
earned rs employed workcra"
ne Goes 10 Merchants
And so. after much persuasion By
McGlll. they pooled their faiths and
doubts and went out 10 Es, the
necessary cash to buy frat sup.
ply OF logs FOR shingles.
McGill bad learned that banker
would advance the men the $4,000
on their personal notes OF 1850
each. provided they were endorsed
by merchants
Audaclousiy. Neon wen, to the
very merchants 90 whom the
Hhlnglo workers owed money.
No ono in the world" he told
the prospective eoopcra,ors. Is 40
deeply Interested in seeing you get
and keep good Jobs in this city and
remain here as producers o. wealth
hA thean very creditors"
Merchants Take q Chance
II meant the extension OF further
credit. and \ risk OF $3.50 TO boot
But THIS MILL. WHEN RUN.
MING. HAD ALWAYS PUT
ABOUT $1,000 A MONTH INTO
CIRCULATION AMONG OLYMPIA
BUSINESS MEN Tho merchants
were losing Just that much by hav.
Ing tho MIL idle.
In just four days the grocarymsn.
butchers. bakers and landlords 10
whom tho Idle shinKlemen owed
money had endorsed the notes for
the $4,000 loan. The mill got under
way comparatively with 20 mon.
Il, was" said Neon. "a splendid
demonstration OF faith linked up
with business shrewineHs. on the
part of the pennlless mon and their
Hponaors-of the faith that is the
fifth wheel OF all industry.
Debts Prove an Asset
The greatest difficulty was 10
inHpire the shinEie weavers with
confidence In themselves. and 10
get them To sign their own note.
for $3.50 each.
II was the first time or any
OF them had ever realized that debt
may sometimes prove TO be a post
tive asset"
This mill has now been op~rat.
Ing three months. and has already
mado new records In production
under tho new enthusiasm OF the
weavcrH. At tho present markc;
price for shingles 10 viii continue
10 provide n comfortable living for
Its cooperative managers, as well
as discharge the $4,000 debt by the
end Of the fiscal year.
Supplies Bought for Cash
LOGS and all supplies are bought
for cash. For every 1000 shingles
cut. cents II laid aside for a fund
to meet the notes.
What is left Ia divided equally
among the men.
Thus the preacher who had been
sent TO the tall timber by hts church
has helped hundreds OF people,
here and in other mill towns. to
find themselves and TO act going
new industry from the machinery
OF broken down ono on little
moro than a shoestring.
Ito Be Continued.)