The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-05-30
ONE NEED
OF INDUSTRY
Should Be Closer Relationship
of Employer and Employe.
SO SAYS W. L. DOUGLAS
His Plan to Attain This End in His Own
Factory Sensible Discussion Of
This Interesting Question BYa
Practical Manufacturer.
so SAYS w. L. DOUGLAS

Practical Manufacturer.
The state OF competition surrounding
the manufacture OF shoes Is becoming so
poignant that the individual manufac-
turer is at his Wits end to conduct his
enterprise successfully. When the state
OF competition in any trade reaches SO
critical a stage that thorough knowl-
edge. n lifelong experience, and the limit
of economic management returns to n
manufacturer margin of profit on his
| product SO small that failure to receive
pay for one fair-sized order virtually
| means tho effacement of his profits for a
season. 1t Is becoming obvious that condi-
! tions exist in that trade which should be
eliminated. To a Times reporter this morn
Ing Mr.. w. l.. Douglas, In reviewing tho
progress Of the shoe industry from the
small factory to the present day immense
corporations. expressed the firm convlc-
ton that one of the greatest needs in the
shoe manufacturing industry to-day is the
development Of a. closer personal relation
ship between employer and empoye. The
progress Of the shoe Industry cannot bet
ter be exemplifled or illustrated than in
the career Of Mr.. Douglas, whose genius
in his chosen field gives him the. proud
distinction Of the premier maker Of mems
genius confined to the Industrial field. for
his executive ability while mayor of his
adopted city and his connection with
man Of affairs In the broadcast sense OF the
word. No individual III the city OF Brock
ton can Justly lay claim to a. greater
greatest shoe manufacturing center In
the world. The conviction that closer
personal relationship between employer
Of o a great great Industry, emanafing from one
whose great success has ever been mark
ed BY fair-minded treatment Of his EN-.
poyes who eyer 1s stood Wiling 70 srhms
should merit the most serious considera-
ton Of every shoe manufacturer and
shoe worker. +
In recent address before the Manu-
facturers Association and the Joint Shoe
Council Of Brockton4 Mr.. Douglass stated
that manufacturers and workmen do not
old days, and expressed his belief that tho
time to stop trouble Is before It begins:
and that some plan OF organization could
and should be adopted bringing employers
and employees together In an economic
study Of the needs of the trade and to
discuss their mutual differences before any
conciliatory and friendly spirit between
old-time personal touch" II is but
that this Imp FL
Mr. Douglas, whose broad conceptions OF
the principles OF organization arc 60 s,'
splendidly attested to by his mammoth ma
workers. and the largest $3.50 shoe fac
| tory In the world. 5ssl l5
In times past the pleasant relations be;
| a pleasure into tho hours of the worker.
and N relief from the cares of business
for the employer. which neither has en-
joyed since the. growth OF competition,
| it,,n n1pcflinerV1 and systems ana
| immense factories. gradually estranging
the manufacturer and his workmen. and
substituting for msenal ,ntsreSl e e.
ical interest on the part Of the werRman
| It is uncomfortable that any manufactlrer
would entertain the BELIEF that r da IONS .!
mutually Of Interests beyond those neces-
sarily felt by two enemies engaged IN the
same enterprise are not detrimehtal 70
| the trade. ,,ha,
Not only the shoe, industry and labor ,.sII
movement, but civilization. needs such
mon as Mr.. Douglas. who wants Mt 80 ms y
necessity forces him to accept. but to
earn and receive the maximum wage tha a.
conditions surrounding the trade JUSTLY
| the manufacturer In paying.
labor problem for years, and his plan
as perfected for establishing closer ana
relations Wen Of s tree or Ave in
ewery department Of his factory and
| freedom on the part of his Workmen AZ
81 times te adaress iesir r H.
n nSstsein he to- consider such. grievance
and Ito to adjust them If possible, In the
event of his failure TO successit Wy 90 ac
tory labor board. comprising five neaas
Of departments OF the company, namely
| II. L. Tinkham, general manases' a. ~ :
Sweetster, manage of collection depart
ment; G. II. Richmond. purchasing agent
and r. H. Erskine. advertising lnanhsel;:
This board Is com Hi,aet 20 tL Of
! iii grievances consistent with the pest
interests of all. not one factor. LII,
The most import sa ho wpfN whose Tn,a' work
must necessarily be varied, w! Dc (, ne
wage question. although the importrattSSe .
the task Of brinmFt the tGea the q prn
oinies 'underlylng greatest ECONOMIC pro.
duction and baslns then, demands LOT 70.
| Increased wages, decreased hours %
~ ~ he = business to consistently grant
them, cannot be overestilnated. Eco,on NC
nroduction is largely dependent upon a, ame
en s,,oh Scientific lent methods OF production
and improvements In working conditlona
as experience has and the t w, anti.
demonstrate to be of the greatest p raetii-
cal value will be painstakingly iAVesu-
gated and Installed ,,,., - ,urv
board can be eser pa Sase ea on 'n as
vvb VerQlCt VIII ENck w p,ANSN -
NV e,S FAIR treatment to the employees;
sbeu1d perchance the labor board and
the shops sb6 be unans t. s9 NM
49, W ~ ING matter hack to their union, and
t thIei the business agent Of their Union
present grievances to the BUSINESS Asso
ctntion Of Brockton. Mass, of which the
! W T., Douglas Shoe Company is mem
ber. Upon failure to adjust al s th 10 mat rsn-
t Sar.d r., the Massachusetts, State Board
Of Arbitration and Conciliation, ~
The Labor Board VII be- be IN 9Snrfoi % 20
entt,a ali Questions that the men and
the t' assistant superintendent cannot ad.
just. There win always exist tt me m.r rls nf
the empioyes 1t will be the aim OF
the the board to settle all questions prompt
IL and before they reach an acute Hsrs s!aS st.
rectly With the employees. who may act
nnder advice from the union OF whch