New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-26
4 GOOD EXAMPLE.

The agreement just made between the Amerl-
can Tin Plate Company and the Amalgamated
Association Of Tin Workers offers an example
of sweet reasonableness worthy of emulation
The company has been DESTROYS To furnish the
tinplate for the large number of oil cans used
10y the Standard Oil Company in lis export
business This tin has hitherto come from
Wales as the law allows a rebate of the duties
on the tin when il is exported in manufactured
form Thus the Welsh tin could be obtained
for export cans al a lower price than the Amer
lean manufacturers We're willing 10 sell their
product They felt. however. that they could
meet the Welsh price if they could cut down
the cost of manufacturing somewhat. and took
their employees into conference. They convinced
the workers that this new business which
would mean more work for Them was enough
worth having TO do for slightly lower wage.
Accordingly the tin workers have agreed TO a 3
per cent reduction in wages. which saving is TO
he set aside ny the company and placed in the
hands of the Amalgamated Association. From
that fund the company is 10 receive back -
per cent of the cost Of manufacture Of plates
sold to take the place of the Welsh product in
cans for export Thus the American manu-
facturers and workmen will obtain the trade
and share between them the cut i'm profits
necessary t. secure il.
The significant point in this transaction is the
coming together Of employer and employed 10
consider their common interest I'm their indus
try Too commonly both forget the solidarity
of a business Too often labor unions make
demands or resist changes 10 meet new trade
conditions ON the theory that the employer is
an enemy whose prosperity is nothing to them.
when in fact Their true interest is To work with
him, help him 10 develop his business and share
his prosperity. II is not altogether TO be won
dered at that they often took the narrow, an
tagOnistic view and were ready 10 see him
lose business rather than share with him the
concessions necessary 10 gain II. They IN turn
found too many employers unready TO share
with them any Of the increased profits of larger
business. The tin workers agreement is in
pleasing contrast with such shortsighted and
selfish attitude on both sides
1t presuppoSes a responsibility on the part
Of the Amalgamated Association which has not
generally characterized labor unions When
these unions are incorporated. that they can
ne held to the performance of contracts en-
ployers viii more generally enter into confer
ence on conditions and make agreements with
them. even 10 the point of profit sharing on
business which may he gained by extraordinary
mutual endeavOr. Then unions will more gen
orally see their true interest 10 he not i'm fol-
lowing Adventures and agtators. but in CO.
/ operating and adjusting business relations just
as two corporations engaged in different stages
Of some manufacture adjust their prices and
methods with a view TO the successful prOsecu-
ton Of the whole branch of trade Then there
will be no disposition TO Soldier and make
business unnecessarily expensive, any more
than there is a disposition on the part Of the
iron manufacturer 10 make the business Of
the tin manufacturer. whose raw material is his
finished product, difficult and expensive. 1t is
a trite saving that the interests of labor and Of
capital one. but IL is not often that il is so
practically realized by both parties as It has
been by the tinplate company and its employees.