The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-02
INDUSTRIAL LEADER
SUCCUMbS IN OHIO;
WAS NOTED figure
Col. William G. Proctor Contrib.
uted Indirectly to VIII
sons Fame

CINCINNATI, May 2.-(P)-Col. VIII
liam Cooper Proctor. 70, Cincinnati
industrial leader and philanthropist
died Wednesday morning.
Friends Of Proctor claimed for him
that he contributed indirectly toward
making Woodrow Wilson president Of
the United States.
As q graduate of Princeton Uni.
versity and later as q trustee, hi
made determined efforts to brine
about notifications in the admins
trative policies Of the university. Al
part Of his plan, he favored the es-
Enlistment Of a graduate school that
would enjoy freedom from control by
the university head and set aside
$500,O0 for the endowment Of such q
school.
Wilson Had Own Ideas
Wilson, at the time president Of
the university, welcomed the gift and
approved It's purpose, but insisted that
the department should be coordinated
with the others Of the institution. In
an effort to carry his point, Wilson
made q trip to Cincinnati to induce
Proctor to modify the terms OF his
gift, which he refused to do and II
was declined.
The issue over the gift precipitated
q controversy, in the midst of which
another wealthy alumnus Of Prince
ton died, leaving large bequest to
the school on terms similar to those
stipulated by Proctor. Unable to
sway the governing board Of the uni
verstty to meet the terms Of the bene-
factors, Wilson shortly afterwards re-
signed the presidency Of Princeton to
be nominated and elected governor Of
New Jersey.
There were many who believed that
this venture into politics probably
never would have been taken by VIII
son had his administration Of Prince
tons affairs been tranquil.
Proctor was the third Of his family
to head the Proctor and Gamble COM
pany, soap manufacturers. His pa
ternal grandfather was one Of the
two founders Of the firm and '.is
father was the first president OF the
Proctor and Gamble company. VIII
liam Cooper Proctor was born at
Glendale, Ohio, Aug. Is. 1862. the son
Of william A. and Charlotte Elizabeth,
(Jackson) Proctor. He was educated
In the public schools Of Cincinnati
and was graduated at the scientific
school Of Princeton University Ia
1883.
Interested IN Employees
Proctor was responsible for many
OF the movements inaugurated by the
company for the welfare and i'm
provement Of the conditions Of it,
employees. In 1887 he put into effect
the first profit-sharing plan which,
In substance, was bonus given TO
the employees In cash in proportion to
their salaries and wages. After six
years Of Indifferent success, he
changed the plan because the err
ployes did not save their bonus and
came to regard 1t as part Of their
earnings. Under = new plan the
bonus was limited to stockholders,
but employees were encouraged to Join
that class. being assisted in purchas-
ing stock on installnents from their
pay or In paying for It with dividends
on stock previously purchased.
Other benefits which he inaugur-
ated for the employees included the
Saturday half holiday which went In
to effect IN 1885; the establishment
Of . cooperative store and building
association: liability insurance ana 4
pension plan which WAS worked out
In 1900. Provision also was made for
the employe stockholders to be repre-.
sented by one Of Their number on the
board Of directors Of the company.
In 1859, Proctor married Miss Jane
Eliza Johnston Of Cincinnati. They
had no childrAn