The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-21
IMPROVED CONDITION OF LABOR.

One of the most distinctive features of
modern civilization is the condition Of la
Dor. the bettered condition of working
men and the improved relations between
employers and employees. Much yet re-
mains to be done in these respects, but a
great deal has been accomplished. The
difference between present conditions and
the nineteenth century is almost beyond
conception. The Journal recently pointed
out how large a part of the world, espe-
cially of the new world, practiced negro
slavery at the beginning of this century.
Now it does not exist anywhere. Its abo-
lition has been an immense gain for free
labor. Equally remarkable and beneficial
in its results has been the change in the
relations between employers and employees.
These relations are not yet what they
ought to be and doubtless will be at some
good time In the future, but there has been
great change in recent years and the
movement is widening and progressing.
In Europe 1t takes the form of what are
called welfare or patronal institutions,
and in this country of cooperative and
profit-sharing concerns. These all have the
same object in view, namely, bring
ing employers and employees closer
together. bringing about identity of
interest and promoting the common
welfare of both. A recent compilation of
statistics on the subject shows that there
are now 12O profit sharing firms in France,
forty in Germany, rinety-five in Great
Britain and twenty in the United States.
This enumeration only includes distinctly
profit-sharing establishments and not only
cooperative concerns. Besides these there
are great many manufacturing establish
ments in the United States whose proprie-
tors have gone to great expense to pro-
mote the comfort and welfare of their
employees in many ways. In many cases
this plan involves the erection for the
use of employees of Lighthouses, lunch
rooms, bath houses, bowling alleys, gym
nasiums, reading rooms, etc. A number
of railroads have adopted plans by which
holders, and several leading banks have
adopted accident insurance and life pen
sion systems for the benefit of their en-
ployes. Six American railroads now have
relief departments for the benefit of their
employees Several of the largest manufac-
turing establishments in the United
States have set examples of liberality
to workmen which smaller establishments
are gradually adopting, and which in every
instance are reported as having the best
results in the promotion of good feeling
and good work. The superintendent of
one large establishment says: 1.-THE money
value of such distractions as peace, har-
mony, good will, sobriety, thrift and con-
tentment cannot be expressed in dollars,
but is nevertheless real" 1t is said that
one-seventh Of the railway employees in
the United States are now comprehended
in insurance departments established and
encouraged by the railway companies. In
these and other like respects no employ
ers in the world are as liberal as Amer
lean employers, and in no other country
are workingmen as we'll treated. 1t should
be the aim and effort of all employers and
employees 10 establish and promote con-
dition so favorable to the interests OF
both