New-York tribune., 1918-05-05
Pay Emplo Dyes I Q
Exercise an
Hour a Day

Vigorous = physical exercise daily,
structor, for the conservation of the
health of it's employees, is the newest
preparedness plan, recently inaugu
rated in one of Cleveland's largest in
dustrial plants. This training is ex-
pected to build up the physical endur-
ance of the men to point which later
on will enable each man to assume
added responsibility, if necessary.
The plan applies to the executive Of
ficers, superintendents, managers,
heads of departments and others on
whom rests the responsibility for the
solution of important manufacturing
and selling problems.
Under the provisions of the new
plan, which has been in effect since
November l at the White company in
Cleveland, the men holding responsible
positions are urged by the company to
spend an hour each morning or after
noon in a new gymnasium which has
been completely equipped in the base
ment of the administration building.
The men enrolled in the different
classes are paid by the company for
the time they spend in the gym and
no business appointment or other i'm
portant task is permitted to interfere
with this schedule. The men are COM
PEELED under the penalty of fine to
report at the gymnasium at specified
time and are not permitted to leave
until the class is dismissed.
Members of President Wilson's Cabi-
net have been taking regular exercise
daily under the personal direction of
Walter Camp, and their programme is
along the same lines as the plan in ef-
feet at the big White plant The gov
ernment realizes the great benefit to
be derived from regular exercise and
is recommending that all manufact-
uring and industrial plants, set aside
breathing exercises and light calls
themes. The American soldiers abroad
spend several hours a day in athletic
games. Troops landing in France are
Immediately marched to an athletic
field, where they participate in inter
reginental games. This exercise linn
bers up their muscles after the long
journey on the transports.
The results of the training, so far,
have been gratifying to both the com
pany and the men. The plan may later
be extended to include all of the five
thousand or more bookkeepers, clerks,
accountants, statesmen, stenographers,
skilled and unskilled workmen in the
plant.
To show how it works, when one of
the superintendent, who is thirty-six
six years old and weighs PIG pounds,
joined the class he experienced for a
time great difficulty. He had never
taken any gymnasium work before. His
muscles were soft and flahby and his
weight made it almost impossible for
him to perform many of the gyrations.
After attending class regularly for ten
weeks he was able to take the regular
work assigned. In this time he re-
duced his weight seven and one-half
pounds and his waist measurement
one and one-half inches. His chest
expansion increased two inches; right
arm, one inch; left arm, half an inch;
left and right leg, each two inches His
health was never better, and he is now
losing from three-quarters to one
pound day.
The thin and underweight men gain
under exercise. A foreman, forty-seven
years old, who tipped the scales at 122
pounds when he enrolled in the class,
IS now five and one-half pounds
heavier. Many of his other measure
ments have increased from one to
three inches, and he says that he is
getting stronger every day.
Three other members of the class
were doubtful about taking up the
work. One was recovering from pro-
longed illness. The other two suf-
fered with indigestion and stomach
trouble. The first gained thirteen
pounds in weight, the second seven
and one-half pounds and the third two
pounds. All say that their health is
much improved.
Some men who complained of having
too large waist measurement and
protruding stomachs have been able to
reduce them as much as two and three
quarter inches and expect to take off a
few more inches within the next few
weeks.