Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-12-29
CARNEGIE HAS SOLUTION
FOR LABOR PROBLEM
CONTINUED from Page L.


men, the capital stock is held
only by employees, and is returned to
the corporation at its value, should the
employe leave the service. Every
share OF stock belongs to some one
working in the stores. 'The most im-
portant advance" says Mr.. Carnegie,
lis that all questions are submitted
to arbitration, not only complaints or
disputes, but wages. scope of work,
and tenure of employment. More than
four hundred cases Of arbitration have
arisen. and the result is that both
managers and employees have been sat
isfied that this is the true plan. When
an employee is discharged he has the
right to appeal to an arbitration
board composed of fellow employees of
different grades. All wage disputes
have been satisfactorily settled. There
is q. profit sharing department, having
nothing to do with wages which has
been able to distribute varying
amounts each year
He goes on to describe the workings
of the plan, remarking incidents that
the Filene stores are not excelled, if
equalled in making profits" He cites
other examples of profit--sharing and
joint ownership and then comes to his
concentrations. in the course OF Which
he says among other things.
Profit Sharing Sure to Come,
Whether the communists ideal is
to be finally reached upon earth, after
man is so changed that self-interest,
which is now the handspring of human
action, will give place to heavenly
neighbor interest, cannot be known.
The future has not been revealed. He
who says yes, and he who says no, are
equally fool-hardy. Neither knows,
therefore neither should presume 20
consider, much less to legislate III
their way. for future they care moth
ing of.
The writer, however. believes one
point to be clear. viz. that the next
step toward improved labor conditions
| is through the stage of shareholding
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 pay
ment by cash to independent work
men today, each a great step forward,
have all been tried, and now the com
| ing day dawns when payment is to be
made wholly or In part by profit-shar.
| ing. the workman having the status
of the shareowning official and voice
| in management as joint owner. He
will be guaranteed minimum wage,
when finally paid by profits entirely, to
keep his mind easy and free for his
work, the proper support Of himself
and his family being thus insured.
Both Men and Company Gain.
ct may be mentioned that the in
vestments of workmen-partners in
the United States Steel corporation
j have been very profitable to both the
men and the company.
Zone of the greatest advantages
1.-THE writer thinks, will be found il
drawing men and managers into
closer intercourse, SO that, they, be
= come friends and learn each others
virtues; for that both have virtues
none knows better than the writer
who has seen both sides of the shield
as employee and employer. In vas
establishments it is very difficult, al
most impossible, for workmen anc
employer to know each other, BIZ
when the managers and workmen arr
Joint owners, and both are paid wages
as even the president of the compan.
is, we, shall see greater intercourse
between them. In the case of disputes
it is certain that the workmen-part
ners have status nothing else cal
give. They can attend all sharehold
ers' meetings and have voice ther'
if desired Entrance into the partner
ship class means increased power tt
workmen On the other hand, know
edge of the company's affairs, its trou
bles and disappointments, which com
!, at intervals to the most successful
concerns, will teach the worl1mel
| much that he did not know before.
"Co-partnership tends to bring re
alizing sense of the truth to both labo
and capital that their interests, broad
. ly considered are mutual and as ia
as the latter is considered it ma
finally, in some cases, be all furnish
ed by those engaged in the works
which Is the ideal that should be he'll
in view--the workman both capitals
and worker, employe and employer.
! Socialism Not for This Day.
/ "This. however is not for our time
: We are only pioneers, whose duty
to start the movement leaving to on
successors its full and free develop
: ment as human society advances. Th
: first company SO owned will mark
new era in the relations Of labor an
capital We may not have to wa
long for this experiment, since it is i
D line with recent developments. Th
writer has no desire to embark agai
$ in business. But nothing could appe:
to him SO strongly as his ideal H
5 should like to address body of worl
i, men. many thousands in number. g
all fellow partners.
The writer Is convinced Mr.. Ca
negie says in conclusion, that tn
!, is to be the highly satisfactory an
final solution. The first step in a
vance has already come in the natur
progress OF evolution--no revolutio
:, necessary-and ii is earnestly presse
4 upon the attention of the intelligel
wOrking-man and his leaders. some