Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-03-26
OF
COMMITTEE
CONDITIONS IN THE FACTORY
AT PADUcAH FOUND TO
BE SATISFACTORY.

~ proposition mas come To Hop
kinsville in which every citizen Of
the town should be interested. This
is the location here Of a factory TO
make cigars for the American Cigar
Company. an establishment which
would give employment 10 at least
300 women and girls. The require
ments are, on the part Of the COM
pany that they can rent n suitable
building and have guarantee Of
300 steady workers, about 100 Of
these to begin as learners on the
opening Of the factory and Others to
be added as rapidly as the first work
ers become experienced.
These requirements have been set
before the public by the II. b. NJ. A.
and those business men who have in
vestigated believe that the financial
results will be good for the business
interests Of the town. But the mems
committee was not satisfied 10 look
at the matter from a purely business
standpoint since the acceptance Of
the offer Of the company TO come here
meant the employment Of so many
Of our women and girls who were not
accustomed to factory work. SO II
was decided TO send COMMITTEES Of
women selected by the Civic League
to look more closely into the condi-
tions which surround the workers
with view Of knowing the effect Of
the work on the women and girls
who were employed.
This woman's committee was to
find out whether the girls in the
Paducah factory, which is nearest TO
US, were satisfied with their work,
whether It was injurious to their
health, whether they made more than
a living wage, whether women Of
mature years had a chance Of MAX
ing good in this work. whether there
was any chance Of promotions. wheth-
er the work and surroundings had
any bad effects on the moral wei
fare Of the girls. These and like
questions were Of the first import
ance and the questions which were
put to nearly 400 Of the girls at
work bore directly on these points.
The committee found the girls TO be
Of an average Of intelligence and aft
er an explanation Of the reasons for
asking personal questions found
them TO be ready and willing to ans
wer all the questions asked. They
all expressed themselves as satisfied
with their surroundings and particul-
arly with the wages paid. There was
an evident spirit Of friendly rivalry
between the various groups and in
dividuals. between friends and rela-
tives employed as 10 which could fin
ish most Of the piece work. The
most evident satisfaction was ex-
pressed by those who had tried vari-
Gus other callings and occupations
and found the cigar f0etory the cas-
lest and the best paying Of any
The average Of health, 20 judge by
appearance, was good several who
were Of nervous temperament had.
by their own statements, gained
in health and they all looked to be
well-nourished That they make
more than a living was evident by
their reports Of the number Of Thrift
Stamps they had bought and the
amount Of money deposited in the
savings bank at each bi-weekly pay
day by those who were making the
ACREAGE wage, and above the average.
Just here IL may be we'll TO state that
the average is $1,000 per week,
though a number gave as their wage
~, l3 and IA dollars per week. The
rapidity with which they rise to bet
ter pay is based on their skill, and
quiekness. In from s to 10 days
they are, most Of them, placed on
what they term good work." In 40
TO 60 days they are on piece work"
when the wages rise from the begin
ming Si.0O according TO the ability
Of the worker. Board costs from
$3.50 TO those doing hight housekeep-
ing 10 $3.50 and 500 at boarding
houses and homes.
A number Of older women were in
terviewed and these were found 10 be
pleased with the woIE as compared TO
any other they had ever done as 70
ease and remuneration. Older w0-
men are not so quick. but are cap
able Of making better wages than in
any other occupation open TO them.
There were three women instruc-
tors in the room where the cigars
are made and wrapped. Two Of these
were sent from the Louisville factory
where they were promoted from
workers 10 be instructors. The 9th
er had been a worker in the factory
for four years. and after an interval
Of absence from the work was given
job as instructor.