The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-12-01
manufacturers Association
Report for November
is Interesting.
RECALLS THE PAST
1t Being Anniversary of AssO
citation, Many Episodes of
Kenosha's History Recalled,

The November bulletin of the assc
citation of manufacturers, issued thi
morning, is termed the anniversar
number. Fourteen years ago thi
month, an even dozen men, executive
of local industrial plants. united fo
closer cooperation along lines of mu
tual interest. Time has wrought man
changes and of the original founder
of the organization in 1907, severa
have ceased to answer roll call.
Among these, whose portraits han,
upon the walls of the association room
are 2. G. Simmons ST., William L. Yult
Thomas B. Jeffery, Charles N. Eros.
Charles W. Allen, George Yule ST., an
Benjamin Windsor Firms holding in
itial membership in the associatio
were: The Badger Brass Mfg. Co
Balm Wagon Co., Chicago Brass Co
Chicago Kenosha Hosiery Co., Coope
Underwear Co., Earl Motor Car Co
Frost Mfg. Co., Thos. B. Jeffrey CO
Windsor Spring Co., and Frank
Wells Co.
All Principles Adopted.
1t is noteworthy that every principl
adopted by the manufacturers at tn
outset is in operation today. The as
ISOLATION is entirely Independent, HAY
ing no affiliations either state or ma
tional and has never interested itsel
in any labor affairs not directly affect
ing the membership. 1t keeps posted
on the general labor situation through
out this country and Canada by mean.
of the bulletin exchange, which now
covers a very wide range of manufac-
turing Industries. There has never
been any lack of cooperation among the
members and the association, which is
regarded as one of the best of its class
in the country.
An interesting fact in the matter of
comparison is the number of factory
operatives of that date with those If
this year. In the month of March,
1903, the total force of employees num-
hered 5,135 Of the large plants, the
Simmons company had 1874; the Thos
B. Jeffery company 666, and the Chi
cago Brass company 1913. With bust
ness conditions normal at the present
time, either the Nash Motors or Sim
mons companies alone would employ
almost as many hands as the total 1908
force of IS local industries.
Shows Wage Increase.
Of even greater significance is the
increase in wages. Statistics show that
the prevailing wage rate of the COM
mon laborer in that day ranged from
$1.25 to $3.50 per day. In some in
stances where labor received $1.75 as
a days pay, the rate was considered
exceptional. Practically the same COM
parison is true in the case of mechan-
les, except that the range of difference
between the rate of the laborer and
tradesman was small Since that time.
has been made so that the
compensation for skill and learning is
more adequate. The total increase in
the payroll of the combined industries
is several times as great as that of the
payroll of 1907.
Safety Appliances.
Most important of the many advan-
ces in industry is the safety movement
and the woFkmen's compensation. To
work in a local factory today is many
times less hazardous than it was II
years ago. In practically every shop
is found machinery of the most mod
ern type guarded by up-to-date safety
devices. One local plant, the Simmons
company, has gone so far as to employ
a safety expert who devotes his entire
time to looking after the matter Of
all dangerous machinery
In the event a worker becomes injurt
in course of duty, he is no longer c.
PEELED to accept such remuneration
his employer sees fit to offer, nor is m
obliged to resort to the courts as a
means of obtaining his just dues
the workingmen's compensa-
tion act, he is assured just settlement
Of his claim.
Suggests Ominous Future.
What changes the next similar per-
iod of years will bring to industry,
remains to be seen. It is safe to as
sumo that even greater will be the adj
along all lines in the future
than it has been in the past. Industry
Of today compared with 1907 shows
a marked improvement of conditions
all along the line. Let this be but
start, and to those of US who are spared
to see the light of 1895, may the con
,rast of conditions show even a wider
range in the betterment of industrial
situation.