Omaha daily bee., 1900-12-07
BETTER INDUsTRIAL CONDITION.
Materfal and Moral Welfare of Work,
men Receiving Confederation.

men receiving Confederation.
san Francisco Chronicle
II is cheering, In view Of all that Is said
Oh the oppression OF labor by capital Ia
note some indications OF disposition amono
employers to cnsider the material and moral
welfare or their operatives, and to assist
them to improve their condition and en-
vronment, The November Bulletin Of the
United States Department of Labor con-
tains detailed descriptions of nineteen large
MISUNDERSTANDING several of our
best known and most rapacious "trusts''-
ana mention OF twenty-five more, In which
systematic enorts are made to enable their
workmen to make themselves comfortable
and prosperous, and improve themselves
morally, socially and mentally. The report
states that no attempt has been made TO
compile complete list OF such concerns.
but only to describe or refer to such as had
been brought to the attention of the de-
partment.
The measures taken for the accomplisb- :
ment of this end vary greatly in different
establishments and include the support of
clubs, athletic societies, libraries, lectures,
Industrial schools, kindergartens, Sunday
schools, musical societies, games summer
outings, sanitary measures, instruction In
good housekeeping and tho domestic arts,
medical attendance, the cultivation OF thrift
by means OF savings banks, life insurance
and provident associations of various kinds,
encouraging the requirement OF homes and
aiding there TO, the sale of stock to employees
and profit sharing. Probably no single
establishment attempts all OF these things
but some do most OF them, and while as yet
but few out OF the great number OF our
industrial concerns have adopted these
nod thnra oh 10
afford evidence OF a strong tendency In that
direction among manufacturing companies.
These enterprises are not conducted as
cl arities. but as a part of what employees
are entitled to upon entering the employ
ment. The general principle Is that the
operatives pay dues sufficient to bear a
portion of the cost and the employers pay
the rest. All risks are necessarily taken by
the employers, as the operatives have not
the capital from which to pay losses. There
is no doubt that the consolidation OF com
peting concerns into trusts" tends to
the increase OF these efforts to make work
men contented. While there is no reason
to doubt that they are to great extent
inspired by real friendliness to the work
men, II Is also true that these measures
are believed to be profitable to the employ
ers. as tending to increase the efficiency
OF labor, They must also be recognized as
an effort to induce a spirit Of cooperation
among all engaged In the business--em-
ployers and employed-as against all the
world. 1t is probable that this is also felt
by the trade union leaders whose object
always Is TO create solidarity among all
employees In an industry for the purpose
Of dealing at arms length with all employ
ers. and who may not feel much enthusiasm
over plans OF cooperation between indi-
vidual employers and their workmen But
however this may be. the tendency has to
be reckoned with and Is one OF the forces
by which more and more the workman Is
getting an increased share OF the products
Of his labor.