The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-08
MAKE PROGRESS
IN FACTORIES
Mid Summer Bulletin of
Assn Has Many Inter.
esting Features.
URGE VACATION WORK

VIC NAAANCS u the LOCAL. InGnAlHGLHIGTS
association, July 1st, furnished re-
sumo of the activities Of factories dur
ing the first six months of 1920.
Among the leading topics discussed
are: The General Labor Situation,
Daylight Saving, Saturday afternoon
! closing, The Superintendent League,
Employment Mems Association of Mil
waukee, ect. Each subject is treated
from the standpoint of its relation
to factory problems.
According to statistics of the labor
bureau, applicants for employment
have been greater in numbers during
June than for any month previous.
One reason for this was the freight
tieup which caused many industries
to reduce forces; another, the slack
ing up in production of some firms.
The one hundred sixty written applica-2
tions directly from the office. Com
plete records for over $1,000 individ-
uals now compromise the files of the
Record Department of the Employment
Bureau. Thus far immigration is not
affecting the labor market of the mid
die west.
Honest Effort on Daylight Saving.
The method of taking the recent
vote upon daylight saving is highly
commended as being an honest effort
to secure a fair impartial expression
of the factory operatives. No attempt
was made in any instance to influence
either the worker or the Councilmen
in their decision.
Factory superintendent are cred
tied with having held fourteen meet
ings since the first Of the year. In
terest will continue throughout the
summer months, as the organization
by unanimous vote decided to meet
as usual during July and August.
Many factory improvements, contribut-
ing greatly to the health and welfare
of the workers have developed from
constructive ideas furnished by mem
bers of the league This body of men
is now fully equipped to solve many
of the troublesome problems Of factory
management
Settlement on New Homes.
Purchasers of houses in the Kenosha
Homes company reached a settlement
with the directors recently. Each
buyer will pay two hundreds in ad-
vance of She stated approximate price,
and in case extras, the same will be
settled through President C. H. Pfen-
mig. The Homes company will lose
heavily from a financial standpoint, but
they have kept their faith with the
home buyers by furnishing them
homes at figure far below the mar
ket price Of today.
The report recommends that where-
ever it is possible vacation work for
school children should be found. Two
ptonths enforced Idleness is nos con-
duciye to the best interests of the
child, neither does it tend TO improve
the welfare of the community. It is
important that the healthy child spend
at least six weeks of his vacation at
some gainful occupation, thus better
fitting him for his school duties and
preparing him for the time when he
must enter the ranks of workers.
Tasks for children should be outdoors.
if such is possible, and if in the fact
DRY, mis- work should be guaged By his
| age and ability and the surroundings
made as pleasant as possible. Hun
dreds of children are now seek va
cation work and many are being
placed.
Saturday Afternoon Closing.
Saturday afternoon closing part
icularly during the summer months.
is strongly urged Many shop opera
tives do not take regular vacation.
and the day and one half interval be-
tween working periods is to them high
ly acceptable. Factory picnics, ar
ranged for and conducted by the en-
ployees, are productive of great good.
The one mistake of holding these af-
fairs at some distant point from Keno
sha should be corrected. No gather
ing that does not include the wives
and children Of the shop operatives is
complete. Mothers with small children
cannot travel fifteen or twenty miles
and remain all day without incon-
venience. We have two city parks that
furnish ideal picnic, grounds, and they
cannot be put to more useful pur-
pose. As stated before. all shop pic
MICS should be managed by the en-
ployees themselves, but the shop man
agement should lend helping hand
to make the same complete success.
Factories Are Prosperous.
A summary of factory activities
shows that apart from poor freight
conditions which have held up shipping
to a considerable extent, the pro-
gress has been quite satisfactory.
Labor has at times been scarce and the
turnover percentage large. The lat
ter, however, is due mainly to the
floating worker and not to resident
operatives. Part of this, also, can be
charged to inadequate housing condi-
tions, high rents, ect. Many workmea
who came to the city with good inten-
tions and secured satisfactory emplay-
ment, were forced to leave for want Of
suitable homes. Factory production
compared to that of other sections
Of the country. has been good. Statist-
les prove that for the size Of her in
dustries, Kenosha with her 1900 fact
DRY workers stands in the front ranks.