ONEIDA'S BUSINESS IS SILVER AND GOLD.(CAPITAL REGION)

Byline: WILLIAM KATES Associated Press

ONEIDA -- Driven by the philosophy of an unconventional 19th-century commune, Oneida Ltd. is heading into the 21st century as the world's largest flatware maker, undaunted by even New York's business climate.

The 116-year-old company has prospered in the last decade under William Matthews. Last year it ran up record sales of $513.8 million and posted profits of $18 million, its highest since 1981. Oneida has added 700 jobs since 1987, when the company experienced its last real financial downturn.

It has paid a quarterly common stock dividend without interruption since 1935 and in February raised the payment for …