Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 270, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 November 1918 — SHALL FACTORY LEAVE HERE? [ARTICLE]

SHALL FACTORY LEAVE HERE?

RENSSELAER GARMENT FACTORY MUST INCREASE PRODUCTION. A. Roth Co., manufactors of ladies clothing, an institution which for the past two years has been in business in this city and has had a pay roll of about $2,000.00 per month must increase its production here or move to some other place where it will be able to secure sufficient help.

This is a branch factory of the A. Roth Co. It is One of the squarest propositions which has ever come to this city. They did not ask for and have not received a single cent from the city. What they wanted was laborers. They expected to secure here a splendid class of girls and women and hoped to be able to have a very splendid production. In this they have been disappointed and unless they can secure more help and if the help they already have does not give the institution more time it is the intention to pull .the factory out of here. This will be done by the first of the year if conditions do not improve. Persons ’ beginning at the factory are paid a weekly wage for a short time and then all are placed upon a piece basis. In the Chicago factory the weekly earnings of each person runs $14.00, $15,00 and as high as $22.00 per week. Here a little higher scale is paid. A few of the girls here earn as much as SIB.OO per week. The management complains that many of the persons employed are often late in the morning and that they fail to dhow up one or two days each .week. The power is turned on at 'B.OO o’clock each morning and work stops at 5:30 in the evening. There is, of course, time given for noon lunch. The overhead expense is just the same whether there ils some one operating each machine or if half of them are idle. In order to increase production bonuses have 'been offered for those whose earnings will meet a certain point. What these people must have is production. The factory is sanitary, the lighting is good and conditions have been made the best possible. It would be a shame to have this institution' leave this city, but, if more help is not secured and if those already imployed do not put id full time Rensselaer is sure to lose this splendid factory. We believe if the people of this community will get back of this proposition and will assist in every way possible we can keep the factory and have its capacity greatly inci*63sed« Mr. Roth is not asking for the gift of a copper cent. What he wants and What he mUsh have is production. He wants his girls to make good money. Everp person who will be at her place of duty at the hours the factory is operated and will be there each day in the week can earn a good wage. Some arrangement should be made to see that girls who do not live here but who desire to work at this factory can secure room and board at reasonable prices. Shall Rensselaer lose $2,000.00 a month or will we get back of A. Roth and give him a production that will increase the pay roM from S2J)OO>QO to $4,000.00 a month? This proposition is up to the women and girls and to the business man. What will you do about it?