The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1908-12-29

| 0ttn dDlC u dISlli1 Wi III :
amounts each year.
He goes on 10 describe the work
ings of the plan, remarking ineiden-
tally that the Filene stores are not
eyeelled, il equaled in making
profits. He cites other examples OF
profit sharing and joint ownership.
and then comes to his generaliza-
tions. in the course of which he says
among other things:
Whether the. communists ideal
is to be finally reached upon earth,
after 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 YES. and he
who says no, are equally foolhardy.
Neither knows, therefore neither
should presume TO consider. much
less TO legislate in their day, for "A
! future they can know nothing of.
THE writer. however. believes one
point TO be clear viz. that the next
step toward improved labor eondi-
lions is through the stage of share
holding 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 arti-
cles, up TO payment by cash TO indie
! pendent workmen today. each great
/ step forward, have all been tried.
and now the coming day dawns when
payment is TO be made wholly or in
! part by profit sharing, the workmen
having the status of the shareowning
official and voice in management as
joint owner He will be guaranteed
| a minimum wage, when finally paid
/ by profits entirely 10 keep his mind
easy and free for his work. the
proper support of himself and his
family being thus insured.
1t may be mentioned that the in
vestments of workmen partners in
the United States Steel corporation
have been very profitable 10 both the
men and the company.
One of the greatest advantages.
the writer thinks will be found in
drawing men and managers into
closer intercourse. so that they be-
come friends and learn each others
virtues. for that btoh have virtues
none knows better than the writer
who has seen both sides of the shield /
as employees and employer. In vast T
establishments il is very difficult. al .
most 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 in
baf ~. Ia. h.a
of disputes, IL is certain that the
workmen-partners have status moth
else can give they can attend all T
shareholders meetings and have
voice there If desired Entrance into
the partnership class means increased +
power TO workmen. On the other T
hand. knowledge of the company's I
affairs, its troubles and disappoint- !
ments. which come at intervals to +
the most successful concerns. will T
teach the workmen much that he did +
not know before.
"Co-partnership tends To bring a
realizing sense of the truth 10 both f
labor and capital that their interests. |
broadly considered. are mutual aud |
as far as the latter is considered II
may finally, in some cases, be all fur
nished by those engaged in the works. F
which is the ideal that should be
held in yiew-the workman both
capitalist and worker. employee and
employer.
This. however, is not for our
time We are only pioneers, whose
duty is To start the movement. leav-
ing To our successors its full and free
as human society adj
vances. The first company 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 it is in line with recent devel-
opments. The writer has no desire
to embark again in business. But
nothing would appeal TO him so
strongly as his ideal. lie should like
to address a body of workmen. many
thousands in number. as all fellow
partners.
The writer is convinced" Mr..
Carnegie SAYS in conclusion. that
this Is TO be the highly satisfactory
and final solution. The first step in
advance has already come i'm the nat
urla progress of eyolution-no revo-
luton necessary,-and il Is earnestly
pressed upon the attention of the in
telligent working man and his lead
ers, some of whom seem TO have been
misled into devotiug themselves to
rhe advocacy of a system, admittedly
snsuited 10 our day. which requires
an organic change in the relations of
society, and indeed involves a COM
plete revolution In the nature of man
the task of a thousand years. The
IL.
ion-workmeH capitalists-has ex-
ceeded. so far, all expectations. Even
the convinced socialist might. there
fore. hail II as at least a step in the
right direction, making labor's posi-
ton better than before. saying to
himself: Let the future bring what
Ii may, bird in the hand is often
worth a whole flock in the bush. Our
socialistic remedy is for the future;
let us not forget this is our dealing
with the present.
Such seems to the writer the part
of wisdom"