The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-01-25
Philadelphia Record)

enteen thousand employees work in
the various one4story buildings in
three shifts a. m. to p. M, p. m.
to II p. m. and II p. m. to z a. M. al
ternating weekly from one shift to
another.
Every employee has a pass and
number. No one can enter plant
without pass. The pass must be ex-
hibited to the guard stationed at the
gate. Next the employee is searched
by guard for matches. The first
offense means a two weeks vacation.
The second dismissal. Employees
are liable to search at any hour while
at work.
A faithful employee for three years
changed his coat for heavier one. He
made careful search at home, was
again searched at the gate and no
matches we're found. A search later
in the day in the room where he was
working revealed two matches down
in the bottom of the coat lining He
was given two weeks vacation.
Signs everywhere in and out of the
plant, Search Yourself for Matches"
can be seen. A large sign at the en-
trance of the plant reads: I'VE
Want Only Careful and Cautious
Men,"
A few weeks ago one prominent Of
fetal was about to pass the searching
guard when he was halted.
DO you know who amp he asked
The guard answered: mo, nor / don't
care. am going to search you for
matches" and he did, and found half
broken match on him. That promi-
nent official got two weeks.
At the entrance of Plant is the
Bull Ring" That's where several
hundred men herd themselves back of
low rail fence, each anxiously wait
ing for Mr.. Mills (the hiring MANI to
look his way, and to raise his finger
beckoning and saying, You, you
come in"
The fortunate fellow who perhaps
has been waiting four or five days
leaps over the rail and goes to Mr..
Mills, where he is questioned as to
his birthplace, his age, occupation and
| the like. If the replies are satisfac-
tory he goes to the examining doctor
and is stripped of his clothing. If he
passes the doctor he goes on the pay
roll next day.
On the outer edge of the Bull Ring"
are found the crooks who are looking
for the unsophisticated guy who has
few dollars in his clothes Not in
| frequently a sleuth Tin disguise as a
worliingman seeking employmenD is
sitting alongside the crook and pump
ing him. These crooks are being
weeded out, and are beating it for 9th,
er places, for they haven't a good
opinion of the Salem County Jail.
There are fully 500 guards (some
mounted) in and around the several
plants. Camp 2 is located a half mile
north from Plant 2. In this camp the
employees who come from great dis
tance are housed and fed. They pay
| for their meals, but sleep free oi
charge.
In order to get into the camp the
employee must show the guard his last
pay check. One employees wrote tC
his chum at home to come down ant
get job. He went, but Mr.. Mills
didn't Sc him. Then his chum tolt
him to go to the rear of the long build
ing and wait. In a few minutes Mr.
Employee hands his pay check ovel
the fence, then Mr. Chum presents i
before the guard at the entrance ant
passes in. He sleeps there all nigh
and gets good breakfast in thu
morning by using Mr. Employees mea
ticket But the guards are gettinl
| wise to these tricks,
Jitneys go to and from Pennsgrov'
to the plants The fee is 10 cents eacl
way, and at times they crowd ten mel
on the auto. They are making gooC
money day and night, The Arctic
that formerly carried passengers owe
to Camden, is one OF the boats tina
now carry you between Pennsgrov,
and Wilmington; 25 cents the rount
trip. The boats run every hour ant
are we'll patroned The du Pont
will soon have their own boats to car
ry their employees from Wilmington
straight over to the plants for ~ cent
a round trip, Thus the Wilmington
employee will save one-half boat far
and jitney fare, too
on Brandywine Creek. in the old d
Pont plant that opened operations il
1901, 600 men are working. Thi
plant Is protected on one side of tn
Brandywine by a hill, possibly so
feet high covered with trees. Tree
are found here and there the Who'll
length (three miles) of this plant a
protection against lightning, which
more apt to strike tree than one @
| -. 80, ..t,.,.s l,gIIgnne