Poughkeepsie New Yorker - Friday October 6, 1944

Plant No. 4 an 'Old Warrior;' Plays Part in its 3rd Conflict

Munitions Manufacturing corporation , a subsidiary of International Business Machines corporation , was incorporated March 31, 1941 , to manufacture war munitions for the United States government. The plant site consisted of approximately 200 acres of land and buildings, on the Hudson river about five miles south of the city of Poughkeepsie. The land was purchased on April 7, 1941. On July 13, 1942, all stock of the M. M. corporation having been duly purchased by IBM , the organization officially and legally became known as International Business Machines corporation Plant No. 4.

Included in the parcel of land purchased by IBM were two factories in operation at the time. One, a one-story building, was devoted to the preserving of luxury fruits and spices imported from all over the world. It had been owned by R. U. Delapenha , hence the trade name RUDCO . The other building was used for the packing and storage of olive oil, and was later converted into offices for use of IBM's various departments. On this site had been a grist mill, used by residents of both sides of the river - the people on the west side floated their grain across in barges.

Burning of Shop Recalled

The property has seen some kind of war work during three wars. A blacksmith shop was located here during the Revolutionary war , and it forged its quota of chain which was stretched across the Hudson at Fort Montgomery to keep the British ships from sailing up the river. The British broke the chain, however, and came up the river to burn the blacksmith shop. The old brick house, on a hill overlooking the river was not burned, as the old colored slave bribed the British officer with all of her Saturday's baking. This same house has been renovated and serves as a cafeteria for the employes working in the lower factory building.

During the first World war, the land was used for what we now call Victory gardens, and groups of Vassar college girls came down from Poughkeepsie to work in them.

The canning of fancy fruits ceased, and the factory turned it efforts to production and preserving of staple foods - corn, tomatoes, and the like grown there. During this war, various types of munitions have been manufactured in both IBM factories here. Also in 1910, this property was selected as a spot for landing and re-fueling by Glenn Curtiss when he made his daring and historic airplane flight from Albany to New York.

Construction of the upper and larger factory was started in May 1941, and by Christmas of 1941, production was in full swing in the building. Constructed also in 1942 was a cafeteria for use of the employes. On July 4, 1942, Plant No. 4 was awarded the Minute Man flag, signifying buying of U. S. War bonds by more than 90 percent of the employes on the payroll deduction plan.

The Plant No. 4 Country club was organized in August 1942 . It is an employe association governed and directed by its officers and a Board of Governors elected annually by vote of its active members . At this time, a nine-hole golf course and three tennis courts are in use on the club grounds east of the South road, and work on the next nine holes has started. All sports activities are cleared through this organization, as well as the Glee club (mixed voices), orchestra, and band. Joseph P. Foley is president of the Club.

In the spring of 1942, in response to a directive from Donald Nelson, formation of a War Production Advisory committee took place. Employes are elected by their co-workers, the plant being marked out in zones. Employes meet weekly with management for the discussion of various problems in connection with better production. The theory behind such a committee is one of equality in representation between employes and management. Through the efforts of this group, successful War bond drives, Red Cross and United War fund drives have been carried on. - as well as large Blood bank held at the plant on July 29, 1944.

The Suggestion system at the plant is operated on a continuous basis and cash awards are made regularly for adopted ideas. All awards are made subject to the rules and regulations of the management and the Suggestion committees.

Education Offered

In the spring of 1942, educational programs were instituted at Plant No. 4. The Department of Education supervised the training of employes and schoolrooms were obtained in Poughkeepsie for their use. Various types of subjects pertaining to shop theory and procedure, as well as other general interest subjects are offered to employes of both shifts. Also, a program outlined by Training Within Industry offered by the War Manpower commission, was carried out at Plant No. 4 - a training and educational program for managers.

The Army-Navy E award was announced on Sept. 18, 1943, by the Under Secretary of War and conferred upon the men and women of IBM Plant No. 4 by Army and Navy officials on Oct. 12, 1943. Ceremonies were held at 5 p.m. and were attended by employes and their families. An informal dinner was held in the cafeteria which was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Watson and some of the corporate officials, with music furnished by the IBM orchestra. On April 8, 1944, the first White Star was awarded to the plant for continued excellence in production.

As of Oct. 7, 1944 the corporation has in force a Group Insurance plan for the benefit of employes families and dependents. The expense of such insurance is borne entirely by the corporation.

When two generations of the same family are employed, they automatically become members of the Two-Generations club after the qualifying member has completed three months of service. The members of the club are eligible to receive gifts in recognition of their membership and are eligible to attend any pertinent meetings.

The War Veterans' association was organized in January 1943 by the veterans of the First World war. Its purpose is to assist, not only the men, but also the families of the men who leave the plant for service in the Second World war. Among the functions of the association are the sending of gifts and other tokens of remembrance to the men in service; visiting the homes of the men in service to give cheer and assistance where needed; and a committee which gives special attention and assistance to our wounded in hospitals.

Poughkeepsie New Yorker - Friday October 6, 1944

Poughkeepsie Prepares to Honor Watson Tomorrow - IBM President to be Guest Here

by Joseph W. Emsley

Tomorrow night Poughkeepsie through its civic organizations will honor Thomas J. Watson, president of the International Business Machines corporation and Mrs. Watson. The dinner gathering at the Nelson House will give Poughkeepsie area professional and business people an opportunity to meet one of the country's outstanding business leaders, and one who often has been described as Salesman No. 1 of the United States.

The head of an industry which attributes its remarkable success and expansion to his leadership. Mr. Watson is on ordinary salesman. Tall, well mannered, and always a gentleman, Mr. Watson resembles more a college president than a salesman in the usual sense applied to a person of such an occupation.

Simple in approach, and shunning associations with doubtful character, Mr. Watson sets high ideals for himself and all who are associated with him in the IBM industries. In business, his policies have banned negative thinking. They place cooperation high among the attributes of those who work for the company.

Perhaps the ideals held by Thomas Watson and his associates in furtherance of their business is best summed up in some of Mr. Watson's own words expressed as recently as the occasion of the opening of the IBM golf course in the South road property of the company last July.

Speaking about IBM policies with regard to the future for Plant No. 4 of Poughkeepsie, Mr. Watson said in part:

"I want all of the IBM people in this community, who really want to adopt the policies of IBM and who can wholeheartedly join with us in building the ideals on which this business was founded - all people who can think that way, believe that way and work that way-we want you to feel that the company will stand back of you in every possible way, and want to do everything that, we can to see that you have happiness in your work, and that you have security for yourselves and your families."

In return, said Mr. Watson, "the only thing we ask of you is to observe and measure up to the high ideals of IBM."

Outlines Formula

"I do not hesitate to say," he declared, "that we have very high ideals, but as the same time, they are very simple. They are based on character and good manners, and decent living, and the desire and willingness to cooperate one with another. That is a very simple formula."

Mr. Watson said further with regard to his vision of the development of the Poughkeepsie plant, "The IBM future in Poughkeepsie is in your hands, men and women and as long as you cooperate with us the business will grow. As long as we cooperate with you along the right lines, which we will put forth every effort to do, I assure you that you, will have happiness in your work, and we hope that you will feel secure in your position."

At a later point in his Talk Mr. Watson asserted that there was nothing paternal about the IBM philosophy.

After stating that IBM expected to reward employes for good services, through pay envelopes, Mr. Watson asserted:

"I want you to take this seriously and remember that there is nothing paternal about it. You are under no obligations to anyone."

Commenting on the relationship from a business aspect, the IBM head said: "In IBM I am responsible to more than 10,000 stockholders who furnish the money to carry on this business, and they would not allow me to do things of this kind if I were not in a position to prove to them that you deserve everything that we give you. I want that made plain here today."

"Run Club," He Advises

Having in mind the IBM move of establishing the Country club for the employes , with the present nine-hole golf course an actuality in the plans for recreational facilities, Mr. Watson said: "I want you to take this Country club over and run it just the same as you would run any other country club. I am very happy to be a member of the club and to be here with you today."

Born at Campbell, N. Y. Feb. 17, 1874, Thomas John Watson, is the son of the late Thomas and Jane (White) Watson. His father was a lumber dealer. The IBM president received his formal education at Addison Academy, N. Y., and the Elmira School of Commerce.

One of Thomas Watson's first jobs after completing his schooling was that of clerk in a store in Painted Post, N. Y., a concern which sold pianos, sewing machines and organs. In this small organization, Watson first applied some of his ideas on modern business facilities. He persuaded the proprietor to install a ledger system of bookkeeping.

Loyalty of service has been a mainspring in Mr. Watson's ideas of the way businesses should be run since the days when he worked in the small country store and later sold cash registers on a commission basis in Buffalo.

Watchwords such as "aim high" were early held up by Mr. Watson as a guide in the course of his successful career. His perseverance won its first big reward when he joined the organization of the National Cash Register company in the 1890's. In the 15 years during which he was connected with this concern, Mr. Watson was advanced from salesman to branch manager; special representative and general sales manager. He learned much from John Henry Patterson who headed the Cash Register firm. At the time he began his work as sales manager for the concern he joined Mr. Patterson at the Dayton, Ohio office of the company.

A merger of three firms brought about the establishment of the predecessor firm of IBM. The former Computing Scale company, Tabulating Machine company, and Bundy Manufacturing company, all organized before the turn of the century, were consolidated into a firm known as Computing-Tabulating-Recording company in 1911. Then on Mary 4, 1914, Mr. Watson was selected as president of the concern. The name was changed to IBM in 1924.

One of the IBM's accounts of the growth of development of the firm set forth that under the leadership of Mr. Watson, the original consolidate firm "became a unified institution, animated by a single spirit; a spirit of mutual loyalty, enthusiasm, and above all divine discontent.

"An Institution"

"Its rapid and steady progress since then," said the historical account, "has not only justified the vision of the men who had played their several parts, in its creation, but has carried it forward to the point where, as Mr. Watson has repeatedly said:

"IBM is not merely an organization of men; it is an institution that will go on forever."

Mr. Watson's concern for the welfare of his employes has often been reflected in his references to them as "human assets." At last July's opening of the Plant 4 golf course, he said, "The real assets of IBM are the human assists, the men and women in our organization. Without these human assets, the material assets would be absolutely worthless."

Mr. Watson's introduction of signs in all of the IBM factories and offices containing the one work[sic], "THINK," signalized his interest in psychology and education. Personnel selected for studies in salesmanship and customer engineering go to school at Endicott, where the parent plant of the firm is located. IBM students are paid while they go to school.

It is now generally known that Thomas J. Watson is one of the top flight salaried executives in the country, having ranked no lower than third or fourth in the nation in total compensation received, in the last several years.

To get up to date on the extent of the IBM industries, we now know that the firm maintains plants in Rochester, Toronto, Canada, Washington, D. C., and San Jose, Cal; as well as at Endicott and Poughkeepsie.

The Poughkeepsie plant furnishes employment to approximately 2,000 of the 16,500 employes of the firm in United States and Canada. In addition, some 4,500 employes of the IBM are now engaged in military service. Before the war, IBM employed about 4,000 persons in foreign fields.

Another indication of the widespread field for IBM salesman is the fact that the firm has maintained offices in 79 countries of the world. Central offices of IBM are located at its 20-story World headquarters building at 590 Madison avenue, New York City. World headquarters was dedicated on Jan. 18, 1938, to the cause of "World Peace through World Trade." IBM participated in the two World's fairs. Mr. Watson's interest in art was reflected at both fairs, the showing was confined to paintings from American galleries.

Lover of Music

Mr. Watson loses no opportunity to aid cultural causes. He is a lover of music and maintains a box at the Metropolitan Opera house. He is a director of the Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York, the Metropolitan Opera association, and the Grand Central Art Galleries.

Mr.[sic] Watson accompanies the IBM president on most of his tours. The couple during the years 1937-39 completed a tour of all foreign offices of IBM, travelling more than 100,000 miles.

The two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Watson are engaged in military service, having volunteered for service before Pearl Harbor. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. Watson Jr., is serving with the Army Air corps. He enlisted as a private in October 1940. Having been in foreign service, he was slightly wounded in the Russian theater of war.

Captain Richard Watson, the younger son, also enlisted as a private. He began military service in October 1941.

Mr. Watson and members of his family are members of the Episcopal church. A loyal church supporter, Mr. Watson made provision for financial contributions to all churches of the communities in which IBM plants are located.

The IBM president was one of the first of the country's industrialists to offer to convert IBM factories to wartime service. Mr. Watson has consistently opposed deferments for IBM employes, who have come within the draft call, even though a good many of them, now with the military, were hold down responsible positions, in the production of war materials.

Hart Served IBM

The decision of the IBM to establish a branch plant in Poughkeepsie was linked with the service to the company of Frederick H. M. Hart of Frederick Hart and Company, inc. of this city. Mr. Hart, over a long period had served the IBM as a consulting engineer. He headed the Munitions Manufacturing corporation, which was a subsidiary of IBM, which was organized March 1941, to establish the South road munitions industry. All stock of the original subsidiary firm was later purchased by IBM and the former subsidiary was dissolved.

Present corporate officials of the IBM are Mr. Watson, president; Frederick W. Nichol, vice president and general manager; Charles A. Kirk, vice president in charge of manufacturing; Roy Stephens, vice president; Louis H. LaMotte, vice president; Ruth Leach, vice president; John G. Phillips, secretary-treasurer; Albert L. Williams, controller; Mary P. Schultz, assistant vice president; Harrison K. Chauncey, assistant secretary; and Garland Briggs, assistant treasurer.

Walter J. Niles is general manager of No. 4 plant here.

The plant in San Jose is the newest of the corporation, having been opened last year.

Upon his appearance here in July for the opening of the IBM golf course, Mr. Watson predicted a rapid growth for Plant 4. He said, "I see for this factory growth that will be many times as fast as the growth in Endicott." A short time before he said this, the IBM acquired the former "Cliffdale" estate, south of Vassar college, as a temporary site of the research and engineering laboratory of the firm.

Most sensation of apparatus devised by IBM for automatic calculating purposes was the huge electrically driven machine presented to Harvard university in August of this year. Now in use by the Navy for the duration, this revolutionary time-saving apparatus will solve practically any known problem in applied mathematics.

The "divine discontent" idea held out to all IBM employees is reflected in one of Mr. Watson's newest watchwords for the organization's personnel. It is: "We must never cease to be pioneers."

Poughkeepsie New Yorker-Sunday October 8, 1944

Watson Promises Permanent IBM Here - President Cites Future Plans for Firm - Industrialist Greeted by 350 at Dinner Reception.

International Business Machines corporation will establish a permanent and expanding industry here, Thomas J. Watson, president of the company, asserted in an address before citizens of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess county last night.

Attending with Mrs. Watson, at a reception and dinner at the Nelson House, Mr. Watson said:

"I assure you that Poughkeepsie is going to have a full share of my time because we have come here to establish a permanent industry and to build it up by manufacturing good products and marketing them throughout the world."

Asserting that IBM will carry Poughkeepsie's name "to all corners of the world," Mr. Watson declared:

'Want to Do Our Share'

"I feel tonight I can say to the people of this community that our industry will grow gradually as our country and as the world grows. We want to do our full share. We will carry the name of Poughkeepsie to all corners of the world."

Approximately 350 residents of the city and county attended the dinner, which was arranged by the service clubs and Chamber of Commerce of Poughkeepsie. Charles T. Overdorf, president of the Chamber of Commerce presided, and Dr. Henry Noble MacCracken, president of Vassar college was the toastmaster. Greetings from the city, town of Poughkeepsie, and the county were given respectively by Mayor Doran, Judge John E. Mack and Leonard J. Supple, with Emil L. Johnson expressing greetings from the Poughkeepsie Manufacturer's association.

Judge Mack conveyed a greeting to Mr. and Mrs. Watson from President Roosevelt, and in his address, Mr. Watson said a greeting was sent by Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau. The last greeting was conveyed through William J. Mair, superintendent of the South road plant of IBM.

The invocation was given by Dr. Philip Allen Swartz, pastor of the First Congregational church, and the benediction by the Very Rev. Monsignor Valentine F. Snyder, pastor of St. Peter's church.

Tells Why City Selected

In summing up IBM's decision to locate a branch plant here, Mr. Watson emphasized five reasons why Poughkeepsie was selected. He said that business depends on two things; research and invention; and education and that the Poughkeepsie area offers advantages in these respects.

The five reasons summarized, were:

1-Research, engineers can work here in quiet surroundings, in dignity and in a healthful and wholesome atmosphere.

2-Education next considered. Vassar college was among the first considerations, Mr. Watson said, both from the reputation and his own personal knowledge of the institution. Poughkeepsie, he added, is near to many fine men's colleges. The city is on the main line to these in all directions. Vassar college, he said, has an especial appeal because of the role women play in IBM.

3-The fine religious institutions here.

4-The fine opportunity for development of homes. The policy of IBM in other places, Mr. Watson said, is that their employes own their own homes. When it is possible to build homes again, the IBM policy might be continued here, the IBM suggested.

5-There are many fine communities in this area from which to attract employes.

6-A personal reason: Mr. Watson said he was born in Painted Post, N. Y. a quiet place where people think.

Mr. Watson also spoke about the reconversion which he termed an "interesting proposition" rather than a "problem." He declared there were two phases to it, the first of which he is certain will be solved by the manufacturing executives and engineering staffs of American industry and that they would handle it in a very short time.

Reconversion of Minds

The other type of reconversion, according to the speaker, is much more important - the "reconversion of our minds." This, he said, will require courage and determination to meet the "new and changed world."

In this connection, he said we must wait for the end of the war to find out the kind of thinking in all nations of the world. "We must consider all these other people," he declared, because we are so interdependent and our ideas must fit in with those of the other world powers.

Mr. Watson proposed a program for the post-war world: "World peace through world trade." He said there were other problems connected with world peace, such as the political. But, he added, the goal will be largely served by sound, fair economic policies that will insure an even and continuous flow of goods across national boundaries.

He paid high tribute to the machine tools industry and the part they have played in winning the war. Mr. Watson declared the machine tools industry deserves special treatment in reconversion because of the "great chances" most of them took in toooling[sic] for war plants.

Education an Investment

Mr. Watson devoted a considerable part of his talk to education and the importance it will play in the future. He urged his audience, "Do not think of education as an expense but as an investment." He asserted that in the "new and changed world," we will need more education and a new kind.

Turning to Dr. MacCracken, who sat near him at the speakers' table, Mr. Watson explained that by a "new kind" of education he was not asking colleges like Vassar to abandon their traditional liberal arts courses for "specific tasks." He said industry wants colleges to provide graduates of "character and good manners," and that industry would then carry on their own education to fit them for special assignments and work.

Mr. Watson advocated more technical training "in a general way," at the secondary education level. He declared he was an "optimist" about employment after the war. Stating a labor policy, he advocated a "take home" wage for the year that will provide food, clothing, education for the children and enough to lay something by for old age.

Discussing further human relations and the problems of labor, Mr. Watson said there are two things we need (and the war has brought them home to us): vision and faith.

Charles T. Overdorf, president of the Chamber of Commerce, presided at the dinner, and introduced Dr. MacCracken, as "one who is too well known here to need any introduction."

Dr. MacCracken called upon Alice Tobin, president of the Zonta club, and principal of Christopher Columbus school, who presented a bouquet of flowers to Mrs. Watson. In making the presentation, Miss Tobin said that, "I represent the Zonta club as hostess club of this very interesting gathering. W are primarily a service club."

Offering the idea that a stream which passes by the IBM property in the South Road supplied the keynote for his remarks in the welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Watson, Dr. McCracken said that the stream was named "Poughkeepsie" and also in legend, "Sleeping Place," or "Rest Place."

Area 'Sleepy' Place

Dr. MacCracken then said humorously that the IBM had located its Plant No. 4 in a "sleepy" place, but ended his particular remarks with the observation that:

"If anything can pep up Poughkeepsie, it is going to be IBM!"

In his light remarks, Dr. MacCracken asserted that the Hudson river and the atmosphere of Poughkeepsie and vicinity tend to "slow people up." Everything is so delightful here, he said, that people come here with ambitious ideas but because of the fine surroundings don't carry their plans to conclusion.

He said that James K. Paulding, novelist, who made his home at Hyde Park wrote 40 novels, and had intended to write more books after settling in the county but didn't do so.

Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the Telegraph, said Dr. MacCracken, came to his South road home, near the IBM, to complete some developments on patents but didn't finish his work here.

Dr. MacCracken then said with laughs from his listeners, that he had a hard time to keep Vassar college going because of the pleasant surroundings. The college, he then pointed out has been in quarantine - because of the recent polio epidemic.

Continuing his humorous references, Dr. MacCracken cautioned the IBM ideas would take "longer and longer to fructify here." Then seriously he said, "It is wonderful to see you come here, and if anything can pep up Poughkeepsie it is going to be IBM."

Mayor Extends Welcome

In an emphatic welcome from the city of Poughkeepsie, Mayor Doran asserted that the community was "proud to extend greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Watson."

Mayor Doran asserted that the location of the IBM here is of utmost importance from the post-war standpoint, and declared that the city administration had laid great stress on planning for the post-war period.

Emphasizing that he believed that it was only through the labors of industry in the country as a whole that this country has made the "great contribution to the war effort that it has." Mayor Doran then said that it was appreciated that the International Business Machines corporation had done its part in the effort.

Private industry, he said, should determine the course of progress here after the war.

"We are extremely happy in the knowledge that this great company is here," said the Mayor. "Your watchword seems to be progress ," he said, "and we can feel more of security because the IBM is here."

"I also believe," said the mayor, "that Poughkeepsie had a part to play in cooperating with this great company. It is the matter of furnishing skilled labor, trained labor, and skilled workmen."

Offering the suggestion that Poughkeepsie can serve the needs of industry here by offering technical training. Mayor Doran said, "I believe that Poughkeepsie should provide technical training, and that the training of our students minds should be focused on industry."

"We are fighting a machine war," said Doran, "and our boys are machine minded." He added that the success of the Allied forces up to now has been achieved with great dependence on machines and material of war produced here, and the "inventive genius of Americans."

In introducing Judge Mack, Dr. MacCracken asserted that Dutchess county became famous for its humorists. Francis Brett Harte, the author, he said, was a lineal descendant of Francis Rombout, one of the patentees of Dutchess county, Josh Billings, "the great American humorist," he observed, made his home here, carrying on the occupation of auctioneer. Another noted humorist who lived here, said Dr. MacCracken was A. Lee Wager, an attorney.

Turning to Judge Mack, Dr. MacCracken introduced him as another humorist, of the town of Poughkeepsie, and "the man who originated the good neighbor idea."

City is Suburb Says Mack

Judge Mack began by saying that "actually the city of Poughkeepsie is a suburb of Arlington," and that he lived in a corner of Arlington bordering Poughkeepsie.

Vassar College, Judge Mack said, "used to be exclusive until Dr. MacCracken came here." When Dr. MacCracken became President of the college, the students "stopped living by themselves."

Judge Mack pointed out that he was appearing at the dinner on behalf of Mrs. Thomas Mahar, wife of Supervisor Mahar of the town, "who is an Ensign in the Navy." He then introduced Mrs. Mahar, asking her to stand up from the place near the speakers' table.

The speaker complimented Mayor Doran as "doing a good job," and then said that "the mayor is trying to annex the town of Poughkeepsie." "I think, however," said Judge Mack, "that he's got a lot of courting to do before he accomplishes that."

Conveys FDR's Greetings

Judge Mack in conveying his own congratulations to Mr. Watson for the decision to locate the branch plant here, also conveyed the greetings to Mr. and Mrs. Watson of President Roosevelt, assuring them that Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt were "glad that you are here tonight and have the best wishes for you and the IBM."

In introducing Leonard J. Supple, the next speaker, Dr. MacCracken [couple words unreadable here] on the remarks of Judge Mack concerning the President's greetings that Dutchess County was indeed famous "having the two rip-roaring candidates for the President of the United States." In an aside, Judge Mack said that Dr. MacCracken shouldn't forget the two present cabinet members. Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau and of the Navy Forrestal. Mr. Supple laid stress in his brief speech on the great machines the IBM is manufacturing, and made particular reference to the huge calculating machine recently sent to Harvard University by the IBM.

"This machine is such," said Mr. Supple, " that you turn some levers and toss a lot of figures into it and it solve[sic] problems in a flash which mathmaticians take weeks to work out."

Mr. Supple said humorously that such a machine should be invented for lawyers so they could compete with Judge Mack. He also urged that one would come in handy for the county Board of Supervisors "to satisfy the taxpayers."

"Dutchess county is very, very proud to greet Mr. and Mrs. Watson and welcome the IBM here," Mr. Supple said.

Emil L. Johnson, president of the Manufacturers' Association of Poughkeepsie, speaking on behalf of that organization, welcomed IBM to the community, with the assertion, "We are always glad to have outside concerns come in here. IBM is a definite distinction to the community. All here had helped to make Poughkeepsie a better place to work and live. IBM and Mr. Watson also have demonstrated they are willing to make Poughkeepsie a better place to work and live. We offer them our wholehearted cooperation and wishes for success."

Mrs. Watson Guest at Tea

Yesterday afternoon Mrs. Watson was entertained at a tea at the IBM guesthouse . She was presented with an orchid which she wore at the reception at the Amrita club and the dinner. Wives and women employes of the IBM arranged the tea, and those attending included wives of visiting corporate officials of the IBM.

Those invited included Mrs. Walter J. Niles, wife of the general manager of the South road plant; Mrs. William J. Mair, wife of the superintendent of the plant; Mrs. Harry Klecker, wife of the assistant superintendent; Mrs. Joseph J. McManus, Mrs. George Schlobach, Mrs. Sidney Pratt, Mrs. James A. Hern, Mrs. Joseph P. Foley, Mrs. R. Harrison Drury, and Mrs. John J. Cutler.

Also, Evelyn R. Brigham, Mrs. Helen P. Lumb, and Mrs. D. Clarkson Reynolds.

Also, Mrs. Charles A. Kirk, Mrs. Roy Stephens, Ruth Leach, Mrs. James H. Johnston, Madame Antoinette LaBerty, Mrs. John H. Phillips, Mrs. F. W. Nichol, Mrs. Walker Gentry Buckner, daughter of Mrs. Watson; Mrs. Albert L. Williams, Mrs. Byne B. Waters, Mrs. Henry Noble MacCracken, Mrs. Doran, wife of Mayor Doran; Mrs. Carlos P. Dunn, Mrs. Richmond Meyer, Mrs. Helen Liscomb, Mrs. Horace S. Graham, Mrs. Floyd A. Cook, Mrs. Gaston H. Hamilton, Mrs. George A. Schiavone, Mrs. Fox D. Holden, Alice Tobin, Mrs. Emil L. Johnson, Mrs. Robert Seaver, Mrs. Guy White and Mrs. Charles T. Overdorf.

Mrs. James G. Johnston, wife of the general works manager of IBM poured.

Mr. Watson said in part:

"Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Toastmaster, ladies and gentlemen: Mrs. Watson and I appreciated very much, the honor which you have extended to us by inviting us here tonight.

"I want to express my appreciation and also Mrs. Watson's to all of the speakers. I wish to especially acknowledge, with deep gratitude, the fine message which Judge Mack brought to Mrs. Watson and me from President Roosevelt, and also a message which I received through Mr. Mair, just before the dinner, from Secretary Morgenthau.

"I want to tell you why we selected Poughkeepsie as the location for IBM plant Number 4.

"Our business depends on two things: research and invention, and education. We selected this community because we wanted our research engineers to be in an atmosphere of quiet, dignity and helpful, wholesome surroundings. That has a very great effect on what they do and in our business without constant research and development, there is no hope for progress for our company in the community.

"Education was the next thing that we considered. Dr. MacCracken's institution, which I happen to know something about, appealed to us very much and also the fact that Poughkeepsie is so near so many fine men's colleges. Poughkeepsie is on the main line to every place.

"Vassar college appealed to us because if its reputation as an outstanding women's college and because women play such an important part in the building of IBM. We have always employed women in our factories and our offices.

"Nine years ago, we decided to take women into a new line in IBM, which we call Systems Service. That means that they are educated to go to our customers and teach our customer's employes the application of our machines and to see that our customers get the greatest possible use out of the machines. We started in a small way nine years ago with a school of twenty-five young women. That has been constantly increasing until now, we are graduating two schools each year.

"Our last graduation from the IBM University in Endicott, was a week ago last Wednesday night. The class consisted of 141 young women who graduated from 91 different colleges all over the country last June and represented 39 states. They finished their preliminary training in our school and are now going out into various parts of the United States where they will continue their education in our branch office schools with our customers.

"Education, of course - next to spiritual values - is all that we have to lean on for this future world which we are coming into after the war is over. We also considered the religious institutions here. We considered the fine opportunities for establishing homes, because we like to feel that our people will be prosperous enough to own their own homes and we are very proud of our home owners in IBM in the other communities where we are located. I am sure we are going to have the same experience here when conditions are such that houses can be built.

"I am very proud of the accomplishments of the Poughkeepsie factory and I want to pay tribute to the young men and women who were trained in IBM schools and who came here and trained people from all walks of life who came to Poughkeepsie.

"We have been called upon to make three different types of gun, along with several other types of war munitions.

"We started here three years ago and we gathered in an organization from Poughkeepsie and surrounding communities and that was another reason why we located here-because there were so many fine communities around Poughkeepsie, that we knew we could draw employes from.

"They were all willing to study and learn about our business with the result that the Poughkeepsie factory has been ahead of schedule in all of its deliveries even though they have switched from one thing to another. During the first seven months of this year, this plant in Poughkeepsie has been turning out three different types of gun because they organized so that they went from manufacture of one type gun into another on a program where no employe of the plant lost one hour's time during all those changes. That is a great tribute to the talents which we were able to secure in this community.

"Let us go into the post-war world with vision. Let us go into it, primarily realizing that the things I have spoken about and the other things being talked about and worked on, in the way of cooperation and coordination, trade relations, between nations and other things are all going to be very helpful. We have got to have more than that. We have got to have faith in something stronger than anything we have been able to create.

"Let's keep in mind that faith of 12 men, limited in resources, limited in education, but with great faith in Divine leadership. They established Christianity which has lived all down through the ages and is getting stronger with each age.

"Thank you, very much, for the great consideration you have shown me. Mrs. Watson and I thank you most cordially from the bottom of our hearts. We hope that we will meet often because we are going to be part of the community.

"I cannot be here all the time. I cannot be in any place all the time because we have five different factories and the home offices. But I assure you that Poughkeepsie is going to have a full share of my time because we have come here to establish permanent industry and to build it up by manufacturing good products and marketing them throughout the world.

"You may be interested to know that before the war, we were developing our products in 79 different countries of the world and after the war, we are going right back and take up our work in those countries and add to them.

"I feel tonight I can say to the people of this community that our industry will grow gradually as our country and world grows. We want to do our full share. We will carry the name of Poughkeepsie to all the corners of the world. We will try through our people, to represent Poughkeepsie in a way that Poughkeepsie is entitled to be represented."