The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-10-27
THE
MINORITY
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL
Author of The Case and
Exceptions, Etc.
IL
Ioopyngh.. lsaa. ~ Frederick A. stoke. a CO,l
Continued


pne, don't propose to stand by and see
the first link forged. There's more al
stake here than the future of this one
corporation. Nobody can be blind ia
the economic conditions as they exist
to-day, and only the fools want to shut
their eyes You can't have revolu-
ton in business methods such as We
have had in the past ten years and
leave the labor question untouched. II
1t is ignored or handled by men of the
Trundell-Croyden type, it will become
political issue, just as sure as we
live"
Maddox nodded at the emphatic
words.
"A mighty dangerous ISSUE" was
his only comment.
Dangerous and unnecessary When
first thought about this combination
consolidation tendency, Dave" Ken
nard went on, Il was opposed to it
heart and soul But what | have
learned has shown me more possibili-
ties for good than for evil in this thing.
Between the worst form of corporate
tyranny and the secret, private greed
Of individuals, | would choose the
former little sweat-shop is easier
to hide than a big corporation"
Maddox nodded again.
"But you must have policy OF some
kind" he suggested, land it mustn't be
too revolutionary"
"My policy, Dave, If you can call 1t
such, is progress, more progress, and
still more progress. That isn't mere
Verbiage. It's practical common-sense
There are number of corporations in
this country which are acting on it to-
day, and they are among the most sue
cessful concerns in the world. These
companies aren't straining to get the
last possible cent for their stockhold-
ers; they are always ready to show
what they are doing, they declare div
ldends on an honest capital, pay the
highest possible wages, and make sure
Df their ability to continue doing so by
strengthening and improving their IA
eilities in every wide-awake way. The
Unions have no baneful influence In
these companies. n there were less
ignorant opposition to the unions, they
would have better leadership and be
less dangerous. The most intelligently
led union | know of to-day is favored
rather than INSTRUCTED by the employ
ers. There are not many such unions
nor many such corporations, but there
ho fn
to the list. That's not very revolu-
tionary, is it?"
mo, but you'll brighten a lot OF
good people away If you talk profit
sharing too soon. could see some
Of our friends shake their heads the
day you mentioned that In the direct.
ors' meeting"
II didn't mean cash proft-sharing
don't believe that's practical but II
II were 1t would still be very limited
expedient. | believe in high wages
the highest possible; but there is a
point beyond which you can't raise
wages, and when you've reached that
you haven't Travelled very far 1t is
the same with any cash distribution.
The differences between capital and
labor can never be adjusted on a
money basis Neither side would be
satisfied as long as one had more than
the other, and an equal division of
wealth is impracticable without an
equal distribution of brains. The APP
peal must lie to some higher motive.
II the question were merely matter