Evening journal., 1909-02-03
Wednesday, February 3, 1909
PROFIT SHARING.

A N intelligent writer in one of the New Eng
4 land papers calls attention to some lessons
that may be learned from the recent business de-
preston as it has affected people who work for
wages salaries.
The subject was brought up by considera-
tlon of two opposite views with respect to op-
portunity for labor and the distribution of the
products OF toll Or. Eliot of Harvard, was
quoted as saying that in a democracy. where
every man must look ont for himself where the
race is free and open to all. there must neces-
sarily be great inequality of reward. The race
OF lite in the struggle for riches means that every
ono must work out his own industrial salvation.
The only thing the government can do is to see
that the opportunity is equal so far as the laws
are concerned.
Around this point has hinged considerable
agitaton<of late. il is the basis Of the warfare
against the trusts, and Of the movement with
which the name, oi President Roosevelt is asso-
ciated. The question has been whether there is
equality Of opportunity--whether some are not
favored above others.
On the other hand Mr. Kier Hardic, the Eng
lish socialist declares that this system is wrong
THAT the only relief is in the adoption of the
Socialist doctrine-that the government shall
own the instruments Of production and conduct
the industries of the country, giving 10 each man
a fair return for his labor and preventing indus
trial depressions This, of course, is very diff
cult solution. one not likely to be considered
except as an academic question
The New England writer points out, however,
as probable solution of the problem, that the
workers in mill or factory or in any business
should share directly in the profits of the BUSH
ness This is a cooperation upon a plan that
seems to be far better than the usual co-opera-
tive schemes a strictly cooperative plan,
as it is commonly followed, does not mean
that the most fitted men are placed in the man
agement of the business and because of a lack Of
managing ability cooperative schemes often fail,
The sharing plan, while it enables employees to
receive a reward as the business justihes, still
retains the most fitted for the managerial posi-
tons.
This is a proposed solution of the problem Of
distribution of rewards that is engaging the at
tenton of many who are concerned in these mat
tiers. A large English ship building company has
recently adopted the sharing system and many
of the larger corporations of this country are
following out the same idea. The companies
that grant pensions to their employees are per-
hitting chem to share indirectly in the business.
The factories that adopt the sliding scale of
wages are doing likewise
Here in Wilmington the recent reorganization
OF the Crosby and Hill house is am illustration
of employees sharing in the business. The plan
followed by the local hrm was one which the two
then members of the firm some time ago had in
mind for their business and it has lately been
put into execution.
There is little doubt that this idea will grow in
the business and commercial world, especially il
the results are at all satisfactory. At any rate
it is being tried by many business enterprises
and some see in it a solution of many of the
vexed questions OF capital and labor.