The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-01-01

ana employees nave been SatlSheO
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 dis
putes have been satisfactorily set
tied. There is a profit sharing de-
partment, having nothing to do with
wages, which has been able to dis
tribute varying amounts each year"
He goes on to describe the work
ings of the plan, remarking incident
ally that the Filene stores are not
excelled, If equalled in the making
of profits" He cites other examples
Of profit sharing and joint owner
ship, and then comes to his general
izations, in the course of which he
says, among other things: 1.
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-interests, 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 to consider, much
less to legislate in their day for the
future they can know nothing of.
The writer, however, believes one
point to be clear, viz: That the next
step to improved labor conditions is
through the stage of shareholding
in the industrial world, the work
man becoming joint owner in the
profits of his labor. Payment to
slaves and serfs, by providing shell
ter and food and clothing for them,
then by orders upon the stores for
articles, up to payment by cash to
independent workmen today each a
great step forward, have all been
tried, and now the coming day
dawns when payment is to be made
wholly or in part by the profit shar-
ing, the workmen having the status
of the share-owning official and a
voice in the management as joint
owner. He will be guaranteed a
minimum wage, when finally paid b.
profits entirely, to keep his mind
easy and free for his work, the J,rop-
er support of himself and his family
being thus insured.
''It might be mentioned that the
investments of the working partners
in the United States Steel Corpora
tion have been very profitable to
both 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 both have virtues
none knows better than the writer,
who has seen both sides of the shield
as employee and employer. In vast
establishments it is very difficult,
almost impossible, for workmen AMI
employers to know each other, but
when the managers and workmen
are joint owners, and both are paid
company is, we shall see greater in
tercourse between them. In the case
of disputes it is certain that the
workmen partners have status
nothing else can give. They can at
tend all shareholders meetings and
have a voice there if desired. En-
trance into the partnership class
means increased power to workmen.
On the other hand, knowledge of the
company's affairs, its troubles and
disappointments which come at in
| tervals to the most successful con-
Germs, will teach the workmen much
that he did not know before.
| "Co-partnership tends to bring a
realizing sense of the truth to both
labor and capital that their inter-
ests, broadly considered, are mutual;
and as far as the latter is considered
it 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 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,
leaving to our successors its full and
free development as human society
owned will mark a new era in the
relations of labor and capital. We
may not have to wait long for the
experiment, since it 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 body of
workmen, many thousands in num-
ber, 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 ster
in advance has already come in the
natural progress of evolution-nc
revolution necessary-and it is ear.
nestly pressed upon the attention Of
the intelligent workingman and hi:
leaders, some of whom seem to have
, been misled into devoting themsel
yes to the advocacy of system, ad
: tod,y ursuited to our day, which
.-es al organic change in th'
relations O. society, and indeed in
: wolves q complete revolution in tn
/ nature of man-thr task of thou
:
!, or-and-capital union-workmen--