The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-29
Will Some Day be Capital,
Says Carnegie
FRIENDLY COOPERATION
Ironmaster Looks Forward with Hop
to the Day When It Shall BE the
Rule for worlmen TO Be Part
ners with Capital.

New York, Dec 20.-'Tn the future,
labor is to rise still ahigher. The joint.
stock form opens the door 10 the par.
ticipation Of labor as shareholder in
every branch OF business. In this, the
writer believes, lies the final and endur-
ing solution OF the labor question. Moth
ing can stand against the direct manage
ment Of owners
These are striking statements found in
an article by Andrew Carnegie in the
forthcoming January number of tho
Worlds Work made public yesterday.
An editorial note states that the article
is published in the magazine because of
the remarkable forecast that he makes
Of the continued improvement In the
position Of labor till proflt-sharing does
its perfect work and the laborcr and
the capitalist become the same man."
Mr. Carnegie tells OF the beginnings
made BY the Carnegie Steel company
many years ago by making from time 10
time forty-odd young partners, who paid
for their interest in the business by their
notes, payable only out OF the profits of
the business. Great care, Mr.. Carnegie
says, was taken TO admit workers of
the mechanical department which had
hitherto been neglected by employers.
Speaking further on of the combination
of many steel works into the one United
States Steel Corporation, he says that
the problem presented was not altogeth-
err new, for Individual and corporate
management have co-eNisted since joint
stock companies were formed. The for
mer had undoubtedly great advantages
over the latter. Able men managing
their own works, in competition with
large bodies of shareholders employing
salaried managers, were certain TO dis
lance their corporate competitors, and
did 50. Nothing can stand against the
direct management of owners
Going on to speak Of the experiment
Of the United States Steel Corporation
in interesting its officers and employees in
its shares, Mr. Carnegie SAYS that every
corporation could we'll afford TO sell
shares 20 it's saving workmen giving
preference in payment at cost as first
charge in case Of disaster, just as present
laws provide first for the mechanics lien
and for homestead exemption"
By way of illustration, he cites the
ease OF the Filene store Of Boston, which
he says, has gone fartfest Of all in the
of making its employees share
holders" The establishment, he says,
employs seven 10 nihe hundred men,
the capital stock Is held only By EN-.
ployes, and is returned to the corpora
tion at its value, should the employee
leave the service. Every share OF stock |
belongs to someone working in the
stores "The most important advance"
says Mr.. Carnegie, 4is that all questions
are submitted to arbitration, not only |
complaint or disputes, but wages, scope |
Of work and tenure OF employment"
He cites other examples Of profit sharing |
and joint ownership. and then comes to
his congratulations, in the course OF
which he says among other things:
THE writer bslieves one point to be |
'lear, viz, that the next step toward i'm
proved labor conditions is through the
stage OF shareholding in the industrial
world. the workman becoming Joint own |
n in the profits OF his labor He win |
be guaranteed minimum wage, when
fnally paid BY profits entirely, to keep
ais mind easy and free for his work,
.he proper support OF himself and his
iamily being thus insured. 1t may be
mentioned that the investments Of work
nen-partners in the United States Steel
Corporation have been very profitable
o both the men and the company. One
If the greatest advantages, the writer
links, will be found in drawing men
md managers into closer intercourse, so
hat they become friends and learn each
,ther's virtues. for that both have vir-
ues none knows better than the writer,
Who has seen both sides Of tho shield as
mplove and employer.
"Copartnership tends 10 bring realiz-
ne sense Of the truth to both labor and
apital that their interests broadly con.
idered are mutual; and as far as the
after Is considered ii may finally. IN
ONE cases, be all furnished by those
ngaged in the works, which is the ideal
hat should be held in yiewtle work.
nan both capitalist and worker, employe
nd employer.
"I'he writer is convinced" Mr. Car
Iegie says, in conclusion, that this IL
o be the highly satisfactory and final
olution. The first step in advance has
lready come in the natural progress Of
mo revolution necessary The
experiment. Of labor and capital union
york men -eapitalists--ha exceeded, SO
ar, all expectations Even the convinced
socialist might, therefore. hail it as at
East a step in the right direction, max
~ labor's position better than before. \
ayiug TO himself; Let the future bring
~ z ~ q
! for the future: let us not forget this
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