The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-07
SOLUTIONS
By CARNEGIE
Commerce as a. Standing Protest
Against the Wastefulness q
.SS Of War.
"A Plea Made for Reward According
to Results for EN- &
ployes.
Division Of Profits Urged The Part,
nership Idea VS.. the Cor
poration.

London, May THE annual meeting Of
the Iron and Steel Institute here sto-d day
was largely attended Aftersbeing formal
ly installed in the chair the new presi-
dent. Andrew Carnegie who remarked
that he was the first president of the insti-
tute who was not a British subject, pre-
sented Sir James Kitson, former presl-
dent of the institute, with the Bessemer
gold medal for 1903
Mr. Carnegie subsequently delivered his
inaugural address. which was listened to
with much interest. Speaking of the fact
that business knew no lines OF separa-
ton among nations, Mr.. Carnegie added:
War is Back Number.
Gentlemen, if international politics were
only as harmonizing a force as interna-
tional educat ion industry or science. what
a wonderful and benefcent change would
result! This alarming race among men
divided into hostile nations, for increased
weapons OF destruction to be used, not
against outside foes but against each
other, would promptly cease.
eff the parliaments of these countries
would only remit to the Iron and Steel
Institute the whole subject Of international
relations including armies and navies, you
could readily appoint a committee OF dis
tinguished citizens of each OF these coun-
tries members of this institute, Who
would nave llLCle ulluCulty III 10y i1iS VIC
founda ton OF international peace and good
will such as prevails among us in this cos
.mopolitan institute, which knows no war
ring divisions, and whose members are
engaged laboring in, unison side by s1de,
guiltless of hostile intent, and therefore
free from ignoble suspicious Of each other
Mr. Carnegie then referred to his own
business and told some incidents OF inter
est. One Of them was this:
Who Drew the Salaries.
eve did not fall to see, as the works en-
larged, how much success depended upon
the mechanical men, the superintendent
and foremen, yet not one of these had up
to that time been admitted as a partner.
The business and the mechanical men
were still widely separated. Well do I
remember the first attempt to bring these
two departments into closer relations 1t
was made with our Captain Jones. one Of
your members, well known and appreci-
ated by many Of you as in the foremost
rank of managers, perhaps the foremost
of his day In America. sHe came &c: us as
a working mechanic at shillings per day.
explained how several of the younger
men In the business department had been
made partners and we're actually receiving
much greater rewards than he, while his
/ services were at least equally valuable,
and informed him that we wished to make
him a partner. I shall never forget his
| reply: Mr.. Carnegie, am much obliged
! but I know nothing about business and
! never wish to be troubled with 1T have
. plenty to trouble here in these works.
! Leave me am and just give me thun-
/ dering salary Hereafter / said. the
I salary of the president of the United
States is yours, Captain. and so 1t re-
NAMED till the sad day of his death.
"Reward According to Results
tsThis plan Of reward according to re-
r,lts, for heads of departm ents, has al
ready become so general and Is spread
ing SO fast we may be sure 1t has proved
it's efficiency. There are few large de-
partment stores or important houses In
retail trade which have not been forced
to adopt it.
.'This plan is probably bound to pre-
vail to greater or less degree in manufac-
turing concerns. and the sooner the bet
ter, for the greater number Of the work
ers capital can compensate and in one
sense reward by sharing its gains, the
more harmonious and therefore more
profitable for both must the Relationship
become.
II never see a fishing fleet set sail with
out pleasure, thinking this Is based upon
the form which is probably to prevail
generally. Not a man In the boats Is
paid fixed wages. Each gets his share Of
the profits. That seems to me the ideal
"OulQ De InOSL interesting IL VIZ COulC
compare the results Of q. fleet so manned
and operated with one in which men were
paid fixed wages, but I question whether
such fleet as the latter exists. From
my experience should say crew o.
employees VS.. a crew of partners woult
not be in the race.
Division Of Profits.
'"rhe great secret Of success in bust
ness Of all kinds. and especially in manu-
featuring where a small saving in eacf
process means fortune, Is a liberal divis
ion of profits among the men who hell
to make them, and the wider distribu
ton the better. There lie latent unsus
pected powers in willing men around III
which only need appreciation and devel
opment to produce surprising results
Money rewards alone will not. however
insure these, for to the most sensitive ant
ambitious natures there must be the not,
Of sympathy, appreciation friendship
Genius is sensitive in all its forms, and i
is unusual, not ordinary ability that tell
even in practical affairs. You must cap
ture and keep the heart of the origina
and supremely able man before his brai
can do its best. Indeed this law has n
limits. Even the mere laborer become
more efficient as regard for his employee
grows. Hand service, or head service, !
Is heart service that counts.
''One Oh Tic CIlSl SOuIC9S aOL WudLGVG
success may have attended the Carnegi
Steel company was undoubtedly its polio
of making numerous partners from anon
the abliest of it's men. and interesting $
many others Of ability in results.
strongly recommend this plan to til
members Of the Institute engaged in bus
ness. believing that in these days
threatened exhausting competition 1t wi
be the concerns which adopt this plal
other things being equal, which will Sun
vive and flourish.
Some Labor Views.
Disputes of some kind between capt.
and labor are always in evidence. but
must never be forgotten that the fe
employees with working master is, upc
the whole, satisfactory.
We see in this encouraging fact the D,
tent and salutary influence of the person
element. The employer knows his ms
and the men know their employer.-the
is mutual respect, sympathy, kind
interest and good feeling, hence peace
But the irresistible pressure which h;
forced change after change In the rel
tions of capital and labor still operat
unchecked-a sure indication that the fin
stage has not yet been reached. We ha,
! evidence Of this in another important a,
vance. the sliding scale. which proyid