The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-11-23
SHOWS SLIGHT FALLING OFF
Crest of Wave of Prosperity Reached in
September When $4,000 Operatives
Were Employed and Force Now Is
Under Ten Thousand Mark.

A review of the November bulletin,
recently issued from the Office of the
Manufacturers Association of Keno
sha, furnishes some interesting facts
concerning the local industrial situa-
ton. Business apparently reached the
| highest notch for the year during the
month of September, when the factory
pay rolls showed g grand total of over
twelve thousand operatives. During
all previous months, commencing with
January 1916, an average of approx
mately ten thousand was maintained.
October presented a reduction ranging
from one hundred to three hundred
operatives in the larger factories, and
on November LIST most plants were run
ming normal. The entire force of the
combined factories today is somewhat
under the ten thousand mark.
Records of the employment bureau
which are accurately compiled, show a
marked increase in the number of APP
| plicants for employment. Letters from
| various sections of the country indi-
cate that mechanics as well as laborers
are quite anxious to secure steady
! positions for the winter. An unusual
| feature at this season of the year is the
large number of semi-skilled workers
on the market. This can be traced to
the great rush of summer business
which gave the Iaborer smattering
of mechanical experience, but did not
fit him to hold up under normal labor
conditions. Such training has proved
detrimental rather than beneficial in
asmuch as the semi-skilled shrink from
returning to the ranks of the laborer
at reduced wages.
There is no indication at present that
the winter is to be exceedingly busy
or extremely dull. From the work
man s standpoint, he who holds his Job
is head and shoulders above him who
is unfortunate enough to be on the out
side. Many workers now realize that
the summer prosperity which they
passed up with the thought that it
would continue indefinitely is a lost
opportunity. To some the summer
was wholly wasted in vain effort to
secure fabulous wages, child s dream
of the golden rainbow There is certain
to be happy mein between the ex-
tremes of prosperity and poverty and
it would appear that local industry is
now reaching that point The sooner
the worker adjusts himself to those
conditions the better will be his lot.
The association, one of the first in
the state and now the strongest, is en-
tering upon its tenth year. It's activi-
ties have branched to such an extent
that they now embrace all lines pur-
sued by similar organizations. One of
its most recent additions is the Keno
sha Homes Company, a corporation
formed for the purpose of securing
homes for workers. Thus far the I'M
dertaking has been most successful.
Counting all stages Of progress from
foundation to completion, one hundred
houses are in course of erection.
Buyers do not wait for the houses
to be finished and many of the new
homes are now occupied.
Careful factory inspection has re-
vealed the true inner workings of the
local industries. Reports of state and
other inspectors prove conclusively
that local manufacturers are endeavor-
ing to follow the law as closely as DOS
sible. Injuries have decreased to
remarkable extent, and as nearly all
plants are operating under the Work
mems Compensation Act, there is no
longer any dispute over settlements.
Child labor laws requiring permits and
regulating the nature of occupation
and hours of labor are carefully OBJ
served. The same is true of the
statutes pertaining to the work Of
female labor. Every firm understands
the attitude of the association towards
law observance and the support of
the organization will never 90 out to
the wilful violator Of the law.
The cooperation spirit of the local
manufacturers was never as strong As
it is today. This spirit is recognized
not alone in Wisconsin, out in all great
industrial centers of the country. In
the great field of industry the name
Kenosha stands as a unit that SYM
bellies cooperation. Co-operation
among manufacturers has produced the
Safety First" system along all lines.
1t has surrounded the shop operatives
with improved methods of health and
sanitation, and, lastly, but not least,
1t has placed the workers wages at q
higher average than that of any other
industrial city, excepting one, in the
nation.