Arizona republican., 1919-09-14
PLAN IF INDUSTRIAL
 DEMOCRACY IS CAUSE
 IF RAPID EXPANSION

DENVER, Colo, Sept. 13.-A factory founded and developed on the princi- pie of industrial democracy and op- erated on the plans of the United States government is the way Charles c. Gates, E.M., accounts for the phe- nomenal growth of the big rubber plant of which he is head and founder.
 Without industrial democracy, says MT. Gates, 1t would have been impos- sible for the Gates Rubber company to have achieved the results that have made 1t the biggest industry of the kind west of the Mississippi river.
 Starting six years ago as two-man shop doing business in one small room and fighting against what rivals pre- dicted were losing odds, the Gates plant today is factory of Is units, covering acres of ground, employing almost 2.000 men and women and do- ing a business of approximately slo,- 0oo,00O a year.
 No industry in the history of the west has shown more rapid develop ment. In fact, the Gates business has grown so fast that it has been almost impossible for the company's superin- tendent of construction to keep pace in his building operations.
 Construction crews are now working on two steel reinforced concrete build ings which it is planned to have in full operation before the end of September and before these are occupied, excava- ton work will have started for addi- tional factory units.
 The idea of industrial democracy, which has made this expansion pro- pram possible, has developed into a real operating partnership between employer and employee, rather than a system of mere cooperation. Under the Gates plan, employees assist the management in all issues pertaining to working conditions. wages, education and social relationship.
 An employees council, composed of workers from every department of the factory, directs the operation of the employer -employe partnership plan This council supervises the purchase and distribution of food, fuel and other necessities of life to employees at actual wholesale cost, the company furnishing the money to carry on the work and buy these goods in quantity.
 In instances of wage disputes or com. plaints of working conditions, the em- ployes council also acts as court Besides the council. there are several inter-house clubs and social organiza- tions, a meeting place tor which is fur nished free by the company.
 One of the partnership ideas put in operation in the infancy of the Gates plant is q roof garden and cafeteria on top of one of the factory units. This is conducted under the direction of committee of employees Here noon meal is served at aetna. l cost, music is furnished by factory orchestra, and part of the dining room floor is left open for dancing. Once each week those patronizing the root garden cafeteria engage in a chora service under the direction of John c 1 Wilcox, Denver municipal chorister. A factory dance and dinner is giver on the roof garden every Friday night
 For employees who desire to improve their education, the company conducts night schools, paying the instructors and making no charge for tuition books and material
 At each session Of the Gates Girls club, instructions are given in millin- 1 cry, dressmaking manicuring, hair dressing and other topics of interest to the women employees. Here agair the company pays the izStfuctors and furnishes material with which the young women work.
 One feature of the Gates idea of in dustriaI democracy that has attracted nation wide attention is the practice oi giving employees two daily recesses o1 15 minutes each at 10 a. m and D. m During the cool season the entire of flee force makes use of these rest periods for outdoor calisthenics, con ducted under the direction of a trained physical culture expert employed by the company.
 The success of every modern busi- ness" says Mr Gates in discussing his ideas of industrial democracy, de bends upon a triple partnership of em- ployer, employe and consumer. Recog- hilton of this principle at the incep- tion of the Gates factory is largely re- sponsible for the success of our busi- ness.
 We have taken our employees and our consumers into full confidence re- garding our products and our business methods. We have endeavored te make every member of the Gates fac tory family feel he or she had deeper interest than tho mere matter of daily wage. We have given them a voice in the actual conduct of business and in the forming of business policy. And under this plan our business has pros- pered and we believe, will continue tc prosper
 Several other big industries of tht west have already adopted all or part of the Gates plan of industrial demoe- racy.