Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-08-05
Results Of Cooperation.

oOPNA"si0n, VI HiOIt-SldIIuS, UC'
tween employer and employee, ha:
been frequently advocated as the fair
est method, and also as the best means
OF avoiding strikes. When fairly tried
it has often proved successful, and
there seems to be no good reason why
it should not always promote better
relations between employers and work
men, and put an end 10 the wasteful
labor troubles that are becoming SC
common. It seems to us that in the
plan outlined by Mr.. Cabot, in the
article below, really sensible and
available plan is presented for prevent.
ton of labor strikes in our shingle
mills and other industries, as we'll as
to cement intelligent effort by that
best of adherents, self-interest. 1t is
at least worthy OF trial, and We earn.
estly ask that it be given candid con-
sideration.
Samuel Cabot, manufacturer OF
chemicals and drugs, employing some
forty operatives, has practiced for
many years a system of profit-sharinG
with very satisfactory results to both
himself and his workmen, and in a
recent magazine article he gives the
following interesting account oft:
Any one who has really watched the
work of operatives for any consider.
able period of time, must be impressed
with the conviction that if their work
were for their own individual benefit,
the amount accomplished would GER
tainly in many cases reach 80 per
cent. more, and in most at least 20
per cent. In addition TO this, the
economies of material and the saving
of machinery would also be much
greater. II the work is paid by the
day. and not by the piece, this differ
ence would OF course be more marked,
but even in piece-work the gains pos.
sible for an interested operative as
contrasted with an uninterested one
may greatly exceed the estimate
above.
The writer having worked in a mill,
had these truths early "proned inter
him." as the negro philosopher, Uncle
Remus, expresses it. 1t thus became a
settled purpose in his mind that he
would try-in case he ever had occa-
sion to run a factory of his own-to
make the employees interested in
economy and thrift on their own ac-
count. This he has now been able to
do, and as it has been carried on for a
period Of fifteen years, the plan may
be said to have passed the experiment
tai stage.
The arrangement is very simple
one. Each operative who wishes to
take part in the profit.sharing is re-
quired to sign paper agreeing to give
q notice OF 60 days before leaving, and
also to do all in his power to save ex-
penses; and, in short. to render the
business successful. In consideration
of this certain portion of the net
profits is divided among the profit
sharers pro 'ata, according to their
wages, during the period just elapsed.
The profits are calculated every six
months and are paid one.half in cash
to the participant, and one-half is
placed in savings bank by the pro-
prietor as trustee for the employe. If
the employe dies in the service, his
heirs are at once entitled to the &C.
emulation fund in the savings bank,
with interest.
If the operative desires to leave the
works, and gives the required sixty
days notice, the fund remains at in
terest two years in the bank, and is
then handed over to the operative, pro-
vided he has not sold the secrets or
formulas he may have learned in the
course OF his employment in these
works.
In case the employe should not keep
his part OF the agreement-should, for
instance, organize strike, stopping
work without the required notice of
sixty days - his accumulated profit,
which is only contingent upon his
adherence to the promises made to
the employer, does not come back to
the latter, but is divided into two
equal parts, one OF which is apportioned
in cash among the operatives who
adhered to their bargain, and the
other is added pro rata to their funds
in the savings bank. 1t seems to the
writer that it is OF great Importance
that the money once divided should
never come back to the employer
again, as otherwise it would give room
to suspicion that men we're discharged
in order to obtain their accumulated
savings. If q man is discharged for
cause, the employer has the right to
turn his accumulation over to the
faithful men who have kept their
promises. There has been, in the
writer's experience, but one attempt to
Systematically break this agreement,
an attempt early in the arrangement
to organize a strike. The result was a
loss on the strikers part of a consider
able sum Of money and the division of
that sum among those who respected
their promises. The strike lasted two
days and has never been repeated. the
strikers begging to be taken back at
the old terms.
And now in regard to the results.
1t is, OF course, obvious that absolute
tabulated figures are impossible in
such a case, as much Of the effect must
be too subtle to be chronicled in dollars
and cents. 1t is, however, the firm
conviction of the writer that his men
have given him return upon the in
vestment made fully equal to that
which one ought to expect. The
earnestness and diligence of the work.
men seem much above the average,
and moreover the thousand-and one
economies which are 80 important in
an industrial plant are more than
usually observed. In fact, from care.
full observation, it seems unquestion-
able that the advantages far outweigh
the cost.
The class OF workmcn is not above
the average OF those in silk or print
works. vet the savings of the bank