The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-10-18

New York, October H.-(Special) Many of the leaders in the larger ln- dustries of the United States are giving as much thought to preparation for the situation which will follow the close or the war as they are able to spare from the demands which the government IS making upon every important industry. It is preparation of that kind which l John G. Patterson and his associates at Dayton, O., had in mind when they in vited to participate in convention at Dayton this week 600 women, almost all of them wives of employees of the great industry which Is Identified by Mir. Pat terson's name. Canada was represented at this convention, and so was almost every state in the union. It has been conv ention of women, by women, put chiefly for men.
 MT. Patterson, who was in New York in tho closing days of the past week.
 spoke of this convention as work or
 preparation for conditions which will i'm
 mediately follow the close of the war
 The idea which Is at the bottom of this
 unparalleled convention of women nrst
 came into MT. Patterson's mind some l0
 years ago. He was at that time in Ger
 many inspecting the various agencies
 which his industry had established not cnly in Germany, but in all the Euro pean nations. He learned while in Ger many that 1t sometimes happened that the employees, who were chiefly selling agents, were for one reason or another indisposed to work to their full capacity ! or ability. This was not because they were dissatisfied with their employers or l employment but was due to reasons which MT. Patterson believed could be
 overcome through the cooperation of the wives of the members of this large body I of salesmen. He, therefore, invited the German women to meet in convention so
 that conditions might be discussed ana l and steadily maintained efficiency Of the agents.
 Many women came. They listened to expositions which related to personal er- l ficiency, some of them setting forth the methods by which the husbands could be kept in excellent physical condition and could be assured of sufficient sleer
 as we'll as reasonable recreation. At bot
 tom this exposition was in sense 2
 welfare movement for it had the wei being of the employees In mind, since the greatest possible efficiency. MT. Patter. son was assured, could not be obtained , unless the employees were cared for II
 every way
 The results which followed this con
 vention of German wives waf speedil, discovered to be most beneficial. Ther' was increased efficiency. The well beinI
 of the men was much better cared roi and ambition for success took the plac of lassitude or indifference
 ! Although these are days of war, MI < Patterson was persuaded that the tim . is opportune for bringing together tn f wives of tho employees in tho Unite r States and Canada of this industry, an [ especially those whose duties are those c d a salesman. Tho purpose was so to iu g struct, 10 to persuade and 50 to encour t age tho women that. through their ei l. forts, their husbands would be able [ Q gain and maintain much greater eff 't ciency. This was to be accomplishe ], through careful instruction of the wive le as to the best manner of caring for tn It physical needs of their husbands, of mal II ing the homes attractive and stimulatin n their husbands to greater ambition V Furthermore, after the war Is ende '. this industry will be, through the effor . these women will exert, as highly speede - up as possible. The convention Is uniqu !, nothing like it has ever been undertake
 in the United States. It has been fro
 ono point of view welfare work th' i'd should prove to be Of great value. it By reason of the departure of many ~, ro MT. Patterson's employees for war servi goI and the inevitable falling off in the bus ,ir ness with which his industry Is occupie Sss S for that is pursuit of peaceful days. ss. great deal of space in the factories w re made available, the government ear no discovered, for certain peculiar deman
 or necessities which arose after our de rn laration of war. The induo'ry, in b. manufacturing processes, compelled a l 'a- markable degree of accuracy in the ma "a. ufacture of certain standard parts. Sol m of these parts entail as careful manip me lation as skillful and almost microscol -d- adjustments. as does the manufacture ,s' So the various parts which when assembl nd make a Swiss or standard Americ he watch.
 'ps The government stood in need.
 some espes \ rpose respecting whl I lit is not now possible to make any pt ks lie report. of certain very delicat