Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-03
MUTEs But MIGHTY
Flying Squadron OF
Goodyear F a Glory
Are Unique Organi-
cation

Twenty four deaf and dumb work
men were graduated this week from
the Flying Squadron of the Good
wear Tire & Rubber Co. at Akron.
The Flying Squadron course COW
ers three years work in the factory
during which the men must master
every operation in the plant. 1t al
so includes two hours work week
in school work, the elements OF rub
Der chemistry shop mathematics,
business economics. being featured
in the course.
OF the original class of IL 81
Tents" as they are called, who vol
untcered at the outset three years
ago to go on the Squadron, every
man remained through to receive his
diploma as Master Rubber Work
err" The other Is men who COM
Melted the course signed up in the
following week.
The Flying Squadron is so called
because it's 800 members are used to
balance production, being shifted
from department to department to
maintain an even flow of product at
all times through the factory.
In the case of the Silents the re-
marka bic thing, according to factory
executives, has been that they have
been able to absorb and hold iii
their minds the intricate details of
hundreds of operations connected
with the manufacture of tires, tubes.
soles and heels, belts hose and other
rubber products.
Chester Tor, foreman of the Fly
ing Squadron, explains it by the ST.
lent power of concentration.
4 They arc not distracted by the
noise and rush of the factory" he
said. When they are learning an
operation they don't see, hear or
think of anything else. And when
they get an operation once they have
II for keeps. 1t is very seldom that
you have to show silent how to do
a thing a second time.
Yon is a former Southern League
baseball pitcher, and can hear and
talk. He picked up the sign Ian
guage through his friendship for
baseball player in the south who was
mute. He personally instructed most
of the silents in the factory opera
tons.
The Silents have their own base
ball and football teams in the Akron
Industrial league. have their own
club rooms in Goodyear Hall, and
, have organized two silent churches
and several clubs for Akron's silent
colony, which is said to be the lar
gest industrial group of mutes in
the country They are excellent
workmen and their earnings have
averaged better than similar groups
OF speaking men.
''They don't waste any time talk
ing to each other while they're on
the job" says Yon. "In the first
place it would be conspicuous in the
department, as they would have to
stop work as they talked, while in
the case of speaking workmen this
would not be the case. So they wait
till they get through work to do
their talking"
II. L. Blythe. personnel manager,
paid high tribute to the men in
awarding the diplomas.
From my talks with you in the
past ! know what it is that has held
you SO faithfully and efficiently to
the job. You have told me that you
wanted to give a demonstration to
the industrial world that men handi-
capped as YOU are, can still find p
proper place IN the industry of this
country You have tried to demon
strate that man who could not talk
or hear need not be restricted to a
Few low wage occupations, but could
master intricate and difficult opera
tons in big industry.
Goodyear is convinced that you
can do this, You have made good
and by so doing have enlarged the
possibilities of all Silents in the
country. l congratulate you on your
achievement"