The Harvester World: Volume 4, number 5, May 1913

              The Harvester World

A WORD ABOUT THE I. H. C.

AND ITS POLICY GIVEN OUT BY SUB-COMMITTEE OF COMMITTEE OF 25

From Auburn Citizen, April 18, 1913
The sub-committee appointed by the committee of 25, the larger committee having been named as a result of the mass meeting of Monday night, last night gave out a statement concerning the policy of the Interna¬ tional Harvester Company toward the employes and the relations of the plant to the city. The statement was issued to the press of the country and was as follows: "To Whom It May Concern:
"With no intention or desire to champion the cause of the International Harvester Company, but in view of disparaging statements published in various news¬ papers and in the interest of fair play, the citizens of Auburn as represented by a committee appointed under a resolution passed at a mass meeting of citizens held at the Court House in Auburn, on Monday night last, would make the following statement:
"The Auburn plant of the International Harvester Company gives employment to 2,400 men and women. The pay roll for the last year was slightly in excess of $1,600,000. Since taking over the Auburn plant the International Harvester Company has increased the average wages paid thirty-five per cent, and that with¬ out the intervention of strikes. A minimum weekly wage of $8 for women was announced by the president of the Company at Chicago on the 20th of March last, the day befoi"e the occurrence of the Twine Mill strike in this city. The committee believes it is within the truth in stating the average of wages for the char¬ acter of work done is as high as paid anywhere. The Twine Mill strike was a sympathy strike. At the time it was declared the employes made no demands of any kind of the Company.
"While 'welfare work'is not a substitute for wages, and never therefore should be countenanced as a reason offered for a reduction or against an advance, credit nevertheless should be given the Company for their efforts in this direction in Auburn.
"First. All departments of the Auburn branch are included in the Benefit Association of Employes. The workmen elect one-half the number of trustees. They contribute one and five-tenths per cent, of their weekly
earnings towards its maintenance, and the Company has donated $50,000 a year for the past two years to the same end. Except for the period of the first seven days a workman ill receives one-half of his daily wages for a continuous period not exceeding fifty-two weeks. In the event of his death the beneficiary receives an amount equal to one year's average wages of the deceased. Eighty-five per cent, of the employes are enrolled as members.
"Second. The Industrial Accident Association pays benefits in all cases of accident. The workmen con¬ tribute to the fund in support of this association six cents a month if their wages are less than $50, eight cents if between $50 and $100, and 10 cents if $100 or more. In case of ordinary injuries the injured work¬ man receives one-quarter wages during the first 30 days of illness, and one-half wages for a continuous-period of not more than two years. In the event of death from accident, three years' average wages is paid by the Company witiiout any contribution on the part of the workman, and to an amount of not less than $1,500 or more than $4,000.
"Third. A jjension system assuring to the pensioned a sum not less than $18 or more than $1(X) a mouth is established. The amount of premium is computed on 1 per cent, of each year's service, taking the workmen's average wage for the past ten years.
"Fourth. The Company maintains a physician and dispensary and trained nurses. In addition, a visiting nurse is provided at the Osborne Works who visits workmen at their homes, who require attention of a nurse.
"Fifth. At the twine mill, because women and girls are employed therein, there is a matron employed to look after and to associate witli tlie employes. It is her duty to bring to the attention of the superintendent any case needing attention, morally and physically.
"Auburn never had a better manufacturing establish¬ ment than this.
"CITIZENS' COMMITTEE,
By ¦
"FREDERICK SEFTON, "JNO. E. M. McINTOSH,
"G. R. PECK, ...     .	
"E. C. AIKEN, - -•»»
"Subcommittee." ¦";
RECOGNIZING GENIUS
Merchant (to detective)—"Some fellow has been rep¬ resenting himself as a collector of ours. He's been taking in more money than any two of the men we have and I want him collared as quickly as possible."
Detective—^"AU right. I'll have him in jail in less than a week."
Merchant—"Great Scott, man! I don't want to put him in jail; I want to engage him."
EVER THUS
This is worth passing around. Some one has dug up the following from the Chicago Inter Ocean of Decem¬ ber 31,.'1862:
"George M. Pullman, of the firm of Pullman & Moore, house raisers, is experimenting with what he calls 'a palace sleeping-car.' 'The wise ones' predict it will be a failure."—^Cleveland Plain Dealer.
"What's the trouble now?'' demanded his employer, when the office boy came in half an hour late.
"The ice on the pavements," said the lad. "Every step 1 took, I slipt back two."
"You did, eh?   Then how did you ever get here?'J,
"1 started back home."
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Delivery day at the Culbertson Hardware Company, Auburn, Ind.   Thirteen Cloverleaf Spreaders were delivered