The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-10-21
superintendent Show In
dustrial Situation Not as
Bad as Painted.
CANOE SAFETY WEEK
Superintendent Decide to Post
pOne Safety Week CeIebra-
ton Next Spring.

An informal report of the superin~
,endents of the Kenosha industries
represented at the meeting of the fac
,ory superintendent at the Elks Club
on Friday afternoon showed that dur
ing the past few weeks the total num-
Ger of employees laid off at these fac
tories had totaled 1,494. This was
much less than had been expected and
puts to rest rumors which have been
prevalent that thousands of men have
been put out of employment recently
in Kenosha.
The tabulated report at the meeting
was as follows: American Brass Co.,
220; Simmons Co., TOT; Nash Motors
Co., 467; Hall Lamp Co., 100; total
1,494. 1t was stated that there would
probably be considerably more reduc-
ton in the forces at some plants unless
the situation changed but these figures
were given out as authoritative to put
an end to unfounded rumors.
Have Cut Hours Elsewhere.
It was also declared that this state
ment did not take into consideration
the fact that many of the factories
have made an eight-hour day for all
the employees that they have retained
and that some, only few, have had
work for their employees only three
days out of the week.
Some factories represented could not
make any definite report. One of these
was the Balm Wagon company where
it is declared that a greater part Of
the men are either laid off or on part
time and another is the N. r. Aliens
Sons tannery, where they are reduced
to not more than two-thirds normal
force. The Whittier company has also
been cut down to one-fourth normal.
AS indicative of the situation, it was
also announced that the American
Brass company and the tannery would
soon probably close the rooming and
boarding houses which they have con-
Quoted for their employees but it was
added that these would probably be
reopened in a short time.
The MacWhyte company was the on
ly one who reported an increase in the
number of employees and at this plant
thirty skilled workmen have been add
ed to the force during the past week.
Explain the Situation.
The superintendent did not view the
situation pessimistically but several of
them did state that they believed the
cause of it lay deeper than "mere po-
litical propaganda" It was said that
the election had nothing to do with it
and that a canvass of the country
would show that the condition existed
elsewhere and that Kenosha was one
Of the last industrial centers to be hit.
They emphasized the fact that there
was no attempt on the part of the en-
ployers to lay off the men and rehire
them at a lower rate as has been in
timated by some agitators. One super
intendent declared that he had con
WINGED his men that the step was neces-
sary by showing the men the cancelled
order sheets of the company. Another
declared that the warehouses Of the
company were packed to overlooking
and that view of them convinced the
discharged employees that the step was
necessary. The superintendent de
clared that every effort was being
made to keep the reduction of forces
to minimum
Postpone Safety Week.
A part of the time of the meeting
was devoted to the discussion of the
proposed Safety Week" and after a
thorough review of the situation it
was decided that this should be post
poned until next spring. The proper
staging of the week demanded the CO
operation of many industries of the
city with the official family of the city
and it was pointed out that it would
be impossible to secure this in so short
a time. In the meantime safety plans
will be pushed in all of the factories
in anticipation Of the staging Of the
week in the spring.
Nineteen members of the organiza-
ton attended the meeting and dinner
and took part in the discussion.