The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-05-11
ExAGGERATE HELP SHORTAGE
Force of Operatives at Work in Kenosha
Factories Reaches $500 Mark and
Manufacturers Claim They are Hav-
ing Little Trouble Getting Men.

The Manufacturers report for April,
issued this week, shows total working
force of $500. There were hired at The
shops during the month 1,713 while
| 1858 were separated from employment.
The applicants registered were 491, OPP
efatives 903. Calls for help numbered
l25. Total registration of applicants
to date is q ITS and operatives, 40,950.
The shortage of common labor for
outside work has been due to the fact
that factory operations did not slacken
in early spring as in former years Sew
eral hundred laborers from Northern
Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota
have come to the city. Nearly all of
them were placed in the factories where
vacancies existed, only few accepting
outside situations In the future, those
who come in will probably find employ
ment on building operations
Statistics, which have been carefully
compiled for the month, show that re-
ports on the shortage of factory help
has been greatly exaggerated. In fast
the April registration Of applicants at
the Bureau was considerably in excess
over that of any previous month. In
explanation of this, Manager Shearer
said: g During the past two weeks we
have not been able to find places for
many of ourfapplicants. The number
of seekers for work from other cities
has been much greater than we expect
ed. Of course, many Of those coming
from out-of-toWn will not accept com
mon labor situations, and when inform
ed that there are no vacancies inside,
they seek work elsewhere
An official Of one Of the largest in
dustries, in speaking of the labor situa-
tion, said; "We have no complaint
to make. Our force of operatives has
recently been recruited in full with men
from other cities. We do not like to
hire out-of town help. It was not
matter Of choice, but a case Of neces-
sity. 1t is true there are quite num-
Der of idle men on the local market, It
they will not work AS we require men
from time to time to fill vacancies,
there will be no trouble in securing all
we need. We grew tired of hiring
Unfortunately. You cannot fit round
peg into a square hole. In sections of
the country where we secured splendid
help, the source is far from exhausted.
More have applied than our plant can
employ at this time
A collection of the mail applications
for work in the local factories shows the
total weekly number to be on the aver
age over two hundred. "Kenosha is
widely advertised, - said one of the fac
tory managers, as one of the best in
dustrial cities in the country. Our mail
brings letters from every section Of the
United States, asking for different
lines of employment. All letters are an
swered either through our office or the
local employment bureau" One of
the noticeable features of this CORES
ponderence is that majority of those
writing, are men with families who have
heard sufficient OF Kenosha to risk the
city as a permanent location-a place
to make homes and settle down.
Before the commencement of summer,
the rooming house problem will have
been pretty well solved. While it is adj
nitted that shortage of homes exists,
the accommodations are better than
generally represented. At one shop
where roster of boarding and rooming
houses is kept, a new list was prepared
May LIST. This showed vacant quarters
where over one hundred sixty persons
could be placed at once. Two of the
large factories have already made prep
arations to house any surplus force of
men they may employ. Vacant lots in
all sections of the city are being taken
lup for building purposes, and accord
ing to the views of local contractor,
autumn will see at least fifteen hun
dred additional homes.
Attention to the preservation of life
and limb now receives first attention at
every local factory. Each plant has it's
own Safety First" organization, the
members Of which devote much time to
the study of devices that will render
safe the operation Of all dangerous ma
chinery. The Safety First Round Table,
formed over a year ago has accom-
pished wonders along the line Of educa-
ton of foremen and superintendent in
accident prevention. These meetings
held monthly have been attended by
over hundred factory representatives.,
and speakers at all the sessions were
men who had made special study along
lines they were called upon to present.