Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-29

He gees on TO describe the work.
'in&s OF the plan. remarldng inciden'ai'
" that Filene stores ar not excel
led. II eQualled In making profits.
He cites other examples OF proht'
sharing and joint ownership. and then
comes to his congratulations. In the
course OF which he says among other
things.
Whether the communists ideal Is
to u finally reached upon earth. al
ter man Is SO changed that self-in-
terest. which Is now the handspring
OF human action. will give place to
heavenly neighbor-interest, cannot be
known. The future has not been re-
vealed He who says US. and he
who says no. are equally foothardy.
Neither knows, therefore neither
should presume to consider. much less
to legislate In their day. for future
they can no nothing Of.
The writer. however, believes one
point to be clear. viz. that the next
step toward improved labor conditions
Is through the stage OF ehareholding
In the Industrial world, The workman
becoming joint owner In the profits
OF his labor. Payment to slaves and
serfs. by providing shelter and food
and clothing for them. then by orders
upon the stores for articles, up to
payment by cash to independent work
men today. each a great step for
ward. have all been tried, and now
the coming day dawns when payment
In to tie made wholly or in part by
rofit-sharing, the workman having
the status of the share-owning official
owners. He will be guaranteed
minimum wage. when finally paid by
profits entirely to keep his mind easy
and free for his work. the proper sup
port of himself and his family being
thus insured.
1T may be mentioned that the in
vestmen,s of workmen-partners in the
United States Steel corporation have
been very profitable to both the men
and the company.
zone OF the greatest advantages.
the writer thinks. will be found In
drawing men and managers into clos
er intercourse. so that they become
friends and learn each others virtues,
for that both have virtues none knows
better then the writer. who has seen
both sides of the shield as employe
and employer. In vast es Adjustments
1t is very difflcult, almost impossible.
for workmen and employer to know
each other but when the managers
and wOrkmen are joint owners. and
both are paid wages. as even the
president of the company Is. we shall
see greater intercourse between them.
In the case OF disputes. 1t Is certain
that the workmen-partners have a
status nothing else can give. They
can attend all shareholders meet
ings and have q voice there II de-
sired. Entrance into the partnership
class means increased power to work.
men. On the other hand. knowledge
Of the company's affairs. its troubles
and disappointments. which come at
intervals to the most successful con-
Germs will teach the workmen much
that he did not know before.
"Copartnership tends to bring a
realizing sense of the truth to both
labor and capital that their interests.
broadly considered are mutual: and
do tob 90 tuS IdStSI - ~
may finally. In some cases. be all
furnished by those engaged in the
works, which is the ideal that should
be held In view-the workman 10th
capitalist and worker, employe and
employer
This, however. is not for our time.
We are only pioneers. whose duty is
to start the movement. leaving to our
successors its full ana free develop
mont. leaving to our advances. The
IRE s0mpany so owned will mark a
new era in the relations Of labor and
capital We may not have to wait
long for this experiment. since 1t is
in line with recent Developments.
The writer has no desire to embark
again in business But nothing would
appeal to him SO strongly as his ideal
He should like to address q body OF
workmen. many thousands In number.
as all fellow partners.
The writer 10 convinced. Mr. Car
negie says in conclusion, that this Is
to be the highly satisfactory and
final solution. The first step in ad-
vance has already come in the natIr-
al progress OF evolut ionic revolu-
ton necessary-and II Is earnestly
pressed upon the attention of the in
telligsnt working-man and his lead
ers. some Of whom seem to have been
misied into devoting themselves to
the advocacy Of a system. admittedly
unsuited to our day. which involves
complete revolution in the nature OF
mantle task Of . thousand years