Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-03
EFFICIENCY OF LABOR

lNHE Iron Age, one of the most emf
nent American authorities on tha
Il economic aspect of labor questions
especially where skilled labor is in-
volved. recently expressed the convic-
ton that the remarkable increase in
the volume of business transacted in
this country has been chiefly responsi-
BILE for an increasing lack of efficiency
| in labor, which is indicated, it asserts,
by 3 decreased output and lowered
standard of quality. Charges made by
such an authority as the Iron Age are
entitled to some consideration. The
idea suggested and the argument made
are of worldwide interest, for labor is
the basis of wealth and prosperity and
the decay of labor means reversion to
a state of civilization that will bear a
close relationship to barbarity, or, at
the best, to the decadence of the state.
We quote from this publics ton:
1.-THE gravest evil from which this
country is now suffering, graver by far
nopolies or from freight rebates, is the
decline in the efficiency of labor. 1t
finds expression in siouchy work on the
part of those who know how to do bet
ter, and poor work on the part OF those
who have never been taught or are
incapable of learning To the more
serious defect of lowered quality Is
added the troublesome feature of less
ened quantity. 1t is curious fact that
the one question above all which is
uppermost in the minds of manufac-
turers and other employers of labor,
and which is privately discussed by
them with helpless iteration, is so rarely
touched upon in public utterances.
1.-THE hope of developing some remedy
is the only consolation to the employers
of labor when they face the prospect
of a decline in the volume of business.
There has been an extraordinary
demand for labor of all kinds. So far
as that has raised wages and directly
increased the cost of production en-
ployers have had no grievance, although
ii is a troublesome and difficult matter
to carry them back to the normal level.
Manufacturers know that prices for
their products usually decline more
rapidly than the labor cost, and must
be willing to face that contingency.
The laws of supply and demand never
operate so promptly in the one case as
they do in the other
"As for the quantity of output of
labor, that, too, responds fairly well,
when the demand for labor declines.
The process of wedding out the lazy
and the inefficient begins promptly, and
it may be accepted as a general fact
that few managers have not thoroughly
examined their rolls with view toward
making their selections. The percent
age, usually, will be small, but the
moral effect is quite out of proportion
to the numbers. During the past two
years the knowledge that job was
waiting for any man who was willing
to take it has had demoralizing effect
upon all labor throughout the country.
1.-The fact will be firmly realized soon
that steadiness reasonable industry,
and acquiescence in necessary measures
of discipline are primary conditions for
employment, and that simple applica-
ton for work is not the only qualifica-
tion.''
All these allegations regarding the
deterioration in the quality of labor
and the effect of the growing ineffi-
cheney upon industry and the product
of shop and mill and factory may be
true. without further data the casual
observer probably will accept as final
these authoritative statements, though
all know that the most eminent author
tiles not infrequently disagree.
If a better quality of workmanship
is to be secured only through lessened
demand for labor, and the American
people become convinced of this fact
it will mean that in adversely will be
found the only remedy for slovenli-
ness in labor.
The cure suggested is worse than the
evil referred to- 1t Is unthinkable that
no other remedy is to be found. There
is something illogical, it would appear,
in the argument advanced by the Iron
Age. Have the industrial monarchs,
whose cause is espoused by this organ.
turned the searchlight Of truth upon
themselves? There must be two sides
to the question.
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