Evening journal., 1920-07-03
PRAISE TODD
FOR STOCK GIFT
Former Wilmingtonian
Makes Good Promise to
Workers Years Ago
HAS FINE RECORD
AS SHIPBUILDER

William II. Todd, former Whining
tonian. now OF BroQHyn. n. Y. who
on Thursday distributed 100000 OF
preferred stock Of the Todd shlpyards
Corporation among his employees. Is
coming In for much praise for his
action. In an editorial Ia the phlla-
delphia Ledger today Richard Spillane
says In part:
1T was In fulnllment OF a promise
he made four years ago to reward
| his workers for good and faithful
service. some OF the recipients got
one share. some flve, some ten. some
nfty. Incidental % the distribution
Mr.. Todd advised the workers 10 hold
on 10 the stock and be would double
Is value for them In four years. He
has n reputation for keeping his prom
lse.
''This man Todd heads the biggest
/ dryd0ck and ship repair organization
OF the western world. Also. he has a
fine record as a shipbmldor. Charles
NJ Schwab has nothing on him
when % comes 10 winning the conil-
dence not only OF labor but OF capital
He IS a hustler and a dOer. He plays
fair with labor and labor plays fair
with him.
Todd was born in Wilmington
Del, November "a, 1867. His father
was Philadelphia and his mother 9
native Of New Castle, Del. His first
work was as a rivet heater In inc
Pusey & Jones shipyard, In Wilmins-
ton. Next he became newsboy. From
THAT he returned 10 tho pusey & Jone.
plant AT twenty-five he was assis.
tant foreman.
"You may get an idea OF the sorl
} OF ability he displayed from the fac
that before he was twcrl-y-four ~
was put In charge or a gang or mer
lBent 10 Trinidad 10 put together two
steamers for service on the Orinoc,
river, which Pusey & Jones ha'
shipped knocked down"
"For three years he worked fol
the government In the Brooklyn Nav,
J Yard and then he went 70 the hobini
prydock as foreman. Then ne Degaf
10 climb. First II was TO The super
intendency, next the vice presidenc,
and then the presidency.
"In 1913. with 100 OF tho workers
he organized the William II. Tod
- Corporation and bought the Robin
I plant. Within a year no absorbed IN
- Tietjen & Lank Drydock Co., and tn
0 Quntard Iron Works.
III liAN nN NNNh al NHNiNn Nn NlA
l. pusey & Jones plant at Wilmington
I Soon after buying the property h
p sold It at a fine profit When be di
= so he shared his profit with the mel
who had worked for pusey q Jone
y when he was a boy.
il The war gave big opportunity :
him. He built mine swsi1pers nor IN
q government IN a plant he establlshe
s In New York harbor. and on the Pa
a sifo Northwest coast he built shiI
+ for merchant service and ships II
war service. Some OF these SCOT
cruisers were speed marvels attainln
thirty-flve knots an hOur He built
great drydock plant at Tacoma. whiC
Y Is said TO be the finest In America.
A Mr.. Todd conducts his business wi
the idea that the men work wit
him, not FOR" him. lie believes q
od pay envelope does not discharge D
no obligation 90 those Of his assOciat
!, who give the best service OF WIKI
. they are capable. lie recognizes an
rs rewards ability and fidelity In q
rs 0flice as In the shop. lie is a gre
le picker OF men and has a talent 4
. arousing the enthusiast OF men.