The San Francisco call., 1901-11-05
COOPERATION AND PROFIT
SHARING.

hE ANY schemes for the solution OF the prob
M lem of labor and capital have been devised
~ One that promised much was organized by
Mr. Dodge at Dolgevle, New York He was
cessul manufacturer OF piano felt, and extended his
operations the production OF all sorts OF felt goods
He had benevolent purposes and some socialistc
ideas and carried both by instituting protshar
ing for the benefit OF his workmen He housed them
comfortably. furnished schools, library, and intel
lectual amusements. and made himself the friend and
companion OF the workmen whom he made partners
IN his business by dividing profits with them
All went well as long there were profits to dI-
vide. but when there losses to divide change
came. Mr. Dodge was surprised to find that profit
sharing was thing and loss-sharing another Had
ne paid wages only and kept all the profits when hard
times came he could have drawn the accumua-
ton to keep work and wages going But there were
no accumulations and after pitiful struggle he
p failed and is to-day a poor man, and has come
California to end his days.
His experiment widely cited a solution Of
the labor problem. but it failed because his own be-
nevolence and unselhshness shared by those
who shared his profits 1t is probable that, after all
men prefer independence to that reliance on the
good will and beneyoence of another which means
dependence in some form AS far Doge's ex-
perence goes it seems to indicate that prefer the
old way, which means that the fttest, the most in
dustrious and thriftiest will go forward and become
independent by their exerions, while those who
lack those qualities will stand still ard die in their
tracks Most OF the social reforms seem to mean
that the grand scheme of society shall be in the in
terest OF the latter class sacrificing for benefit the
individual ambition. enterprise and progressive spirit
OF the former.
Another scheme that has been often tried is the
cooperation colony. 1t is generally known that
such colony of white people formed and planted
in Hawaii TO demonstrate that white labor could
work in the fields and make for itself foothold
in the tropics by industry for which it had been
thought unfit.
Fourteen colonists were settled on the Eva panta-
ton, on the very best OF cane land They made $40
a month, with free house rent. fuel water, garden
schools, train carry the children to school and
physician free of cost Yet only FIVE Of the number
remained until the first crop OF cane matured Then
they all left but two and these when the second crop
Of cane matured refused either strip cut or load
the cane and japanese labor had to be called in to
save the crop. They had no complaint to make about
the land or any Of the conditions Five of them were
married men. The first man 10 quit left after one
month in the colony because his wife disliked the
quiet life The next Quit because his wife died The
third Withdrew because he quarreled with brother
colonist The fourth was III, and then when the
cane ready five OF the single men deserted
in body. strrendeFng the profit they had in the
seasons work. OF the FIVE left two were aged one
midde-aged, and two were boys. When the second
crop was milIed they took their share of the profits
and quit.
None seemed lacking in industry but they chafed
under the dependence Of cooperation and disked the
work and the climate. 1t is believed that this ends
not only white colony experiments in the islands but
also the hope Of using white labor on the sugar
plantations. and brings in sight crisis in the labor
situation Of Hawaii
Now. what is to conclude from the lesson of
DOlgevilIe and Eva? Is it fair to conclude in both
that artificial substituted for natural cond
tions and failed? Is fair conclude that men pre-
Ter 10 work out their own salvation, earn and keep
their wages and profits, and to squander or in
vest them they please rather than cooperate with
others or become the bene6ciares of the benevolent
plans and oversight of an employer