The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-28
PROFIT SHARING.
Carnegie Offers Joint Stock
Form of Corporation
As the Solution of the Labor
Problem at This Time.
NOTHING CAN STAND
Against the Direct Management
OF the Owners.
Cites Instances Where the Plan
Has Been Tried.

New York Dec. 2S.-"In the flu
ture, labor is to rise still higher.
The joint stock form opens the door
to the participate of labor as share
holder in every branch of business. In
this. the writer believes, lies the final
and enduring solution of the labor
question. Nothing can stand against
the direct management of owners. We
are only pioneers whose duty it is to
start the movement. leaving to our
successors it's full and free develop
ment as human society advances"
These are striking statements found
in an article by Andrew Carnegie in
the forthcoming January number of
The Worlds Work made, public today.
An editorial note states that the
article is taken from Mr.. Carnegie
new book problems of Today" and
that it is published in the magazine
because of the remarkabIe-it might
be called even observation-disclosures
that he makes of the continued i'm
provement in the position of labor till
profit sharing does its perfect work
and the labOrer and the capitalist be-
come the same man.
Mr. Carnegie tells of the beginnings
made by the Carnegie Steel company
many years ago by making from time
to time 40 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 de-
partment 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 al
-, l;--s<l
porate management have co-existed
since joint stock companies were
formed. The former 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 distance
their corporate competitors. and did
so. Nothing can stand against the
direct management of owners"
Steel Trusts Experiment.
Going on to speak of the expert
ment of the United States steel cor
poration in interesting it's officers and
employees in its shares Mr.. Carnegie
says that EVERY corporation could
we'll afford to sell shares to its saw
| ing workmen giving preference in re-
payment at cost as a first charge in
case of disaster, just as present laws
provide first for the mechanics lien
| and for homestead exemption This
sarily buys the shares without know
! ledge, and is asked to buy them, not
solely for his own advantage, but for
the benefit Of the company as we'll
the advantage of both"
The writer points out that ''just as
the mechanical world has changed
and improved, so the world of labor
has advanced from the slavery of the
| laborer to the day of his absolute in
| dependence and now to this day. when
| he begins to take his proper place as
the capitalist-partner of his employer
We may look forward with hope to
the day when it shall be the rule fo1
| the workman to be partner with cap
| ital. the man of affairs giving his bust
| ness experience, the workingman in
| the mill his mechanical skill, to the
company, both owners of the shares
and 50 far equally interested in the
success Of their joint efforts each in
dispensable. so that without their CO.
/ operation success would be impos-
sible.''
Replying to the possible charge OF
being oyer-sanguine. Mr.. Carnegie de-
clares himself convinced that 'the
huge com bination, and even the mod
crate corporation. has no chance in
competition with the partnership