The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1908-12-29
CARNEGIE ON
LABOR PROBLEM
Believes Profit Sharing Plan
VIII be Final Solution.
WE ARE ONLY THE PIONEERS

Workmen as Stockholders Corpora
tions Have Great Advantages Over
Competitors, and Points TO the
United States Steel Corporation.
New York, Dec. 2S.-"In the futu.
labor is to rise still higher The JOINT
stock form opens the door to the pa.
tiCipation of labor as shareholder IL
every branch OF business. In this, the
writer believes. lies the final and en-
during solution of the labor question
Nothing can stand against the direct
management of owners. We are only
pioneers whose duty is to start IN
movement leaving TO our successors
its full and free development as hu
man society advances
These are striking statements fOun'
in an article by Andrew Carnegie u
the January number OF The World
Work. An editorial note states thai
the article is taken from Mr. Carne
eie's new book. Problems OF Today,
and that il is published in the maya
zine because of the remarkable
might be called even sensatiOnal-foie
cast that he makes OF the continue
improvement in the position OF labor
till profit sharing does its perfect worf
and the labOrer and the capitalist be
come the same man
Tells of His Beg ning.
Mr.. Carnegie tells OF the beginnings
made by the Carnegie Steel company
many years ago by taking from time
to time forty-odd young partners. who
paid for their interest in the bushes.
by their notes. payable only out of the
FRONTS of the business. Great care
Mr.. Carnegie said. was taken to adm
workers of the mechanical department
which had hitherto been neglected b.
employers. Speaking further on OF TIC
combination OF many steel works int
the one United States Steel corpora
ton he says that the problem present
ed was not altogether new. for indi
vidual and corporate management
have co-existed since joint stock com
panios were formed. The former ma
undoubtedly great advantages over the
latter. Able men managing their OWL
works. in competition with large bot
les of shareholders employing salaried
managers. were certain TO distance
their corporate competitors. and did
so. Nothing can stand against the di
rect management OF owners.
Going on to speak OF the expert
ment Of the United States Steel cor
porati0n in interesting its officers and
employees in its shares. Mr.. Carnegi
saws that every corporation coule
well afford TO sell shares TO its sayini
workmen. giving preference in repay
ment at first cost as first charge in
case Of disaster. just as present law
provide first for the mechanics lieu
and for homestead exemption. This y
due TO the nottingham who neces
sarily buys his shares without knowl
edge and is asked to buy them no
solely for his own advantage. but 70
the benefit of the company as we'll
the advantage of both"
Workman Partner With Capital.
Tie writer points out that Just as
the mechanical world has changed ana
improved. so the world Of labor ha
advanced from the slavery OF the h
borer to the day of his absolute indie
pendence, and now to this day when
he begins to take his proper place a
the capitalist partner OF his employer
We NAV look forward with hope 10 tn
day when it shall be the rule for tn
workman to be partner with capital
the man of affairs giving his bushes
experience. the workingman in tn
mill his mechanical skill. TO the com
pany. both owners of the shares an
so far equally interested in the sue
cess of their joint efforts, each indis
pensable. so that without their c.
operation success would be impossl
BILE"
Mr.. Carnegie illustrates severa
cases and then says: "CopartnershiI
tends to bring a realizing sense Of the
truth to both labor and capital thai
their interests, broadly considered. are
mutual: and as far as the latter J.
considered it may finally. in som
cases, be all furnished by those en-
gagged in the works. which is the idea
that should be held in view-the worl
man both capitalist and worker, EN-
Dloye and employer"