Semi-weekly herald., 1910-05-02

WASHINGTON. April 2.-The ten.
dency of thoughtful American manu-
facturers and other large employers
of labor IS 10 stimulate the interest
and loyalty of their workmen by ad-
mitting them to share in the profits
OF their toll, over and above their fixed
compensation. The International Har-
yester company the United States
Steel corporation and other great Or
gapizations which employ many thou
sands OF men have set the example of
profii-sharing with their employees, and
| am informed by those who are ia.
miliar with the subject that more than
nifty great corporations have intro
benefit of their men, but to insure
heir permanent employment and less
en- the dangers of strikes. The Great
Northern Railway company has adopt
ed the plan of selling shares of its
own stock to its conductors, engineers,
filemen, bTakemen, machinists, switch
men and other worlmen, on the in
sfallment plan. and carrying It for
them until they can pay for 1t out of
their savings Other companies have
adopted similar means 10 identify la
Dor with capital. and what is known
as the premium system prevails in
many factories,
There is a difference of opinion
among men OF experience as TO the
comparative advantages of these meth.
ods, and they are all condemned by
The labor union leaders as "insidious
methods Of robbng workingmen of in
dependence OF thought and independ
ence of action" and as "bribes to
tempt them into slavery" Other vio
lent expressions have been used in the
discussion OF the subject, but every
one must agree that any means of
increasing the rewards of labor and
OF promoting the identity OF mutual
interests of the employers and the EN-
pioyed should be encouraged
Robert Wuest. commissioner of the
National Metal Trades association of
Cleveland, Ohio, is an earnest adyo
cate OF the premium" plan. and has
given the subject study. AS he is per
haps the most familiar with the sub
iect OF anyone | asked him to explain
the advantages of the different meth.
DDS of rewarding earnest, industrious
and ambitious workmen, so as to in.
unrp tbap1 n Iy
earn "A living:
If the United States Is to continue
to be an industrial nation" said Mr.
Wnest, in answer to my question,
some plan must be adopted whereby
employees may share beyond the extent
OF their daily wage in the profits Of
the concerns by which they are en-.
ployed Profit sharing and the PIE
MUM plan system. so called, have
proved wonderful inveutives TO uiubi.
tton and better Workmanship. even
when tried in The crudty OF present
day effort; but The excellent results
so faI attained are only an earnest of
what they may become when furthe
worked out and perfected The appli-
cation of either OF these systems In
Itself will moi prove Il panacea for
industrial ills, nor will they solve all
labor troubles: but, with thoughtful
adaptation of the method best suited
TO each individual shop, the way will
be paved toward correcting many
abuses.
When such men as Andrew Car
negle, Melville e. ingalls, and George
w. Perkins in this country, and Sir
Christopher Furness. the great ship
builder in England. are giving years
OF study 10 the solution of industrial
problems, it is time that our manu-
facturers devote some time and
thought to the economic aspects of
these and similar problems. Mr.. Car
negie, in u recently published book,
prophesies the coming of the day when
the remuneration of employees will be
by profit sharing, a minimum wage
agreement will give way TO profit.
9harine, which, in some FORMS is
bound TO be the basis of cooperation
Among manufacturers prominent In
the machinery trade who are devoting
much time to the study OF equitable
methods of paying for labor. is the
former treasurer of the National Metal
Trades association, Fred A. Geier, presi
dent Of one OF Cincinnati's largest en.
terprises, who declares that the value
to our employees Of the premium sys-
TEN which we employ arises from the
fact that the opportunity of increased
pay stimulates the men 10 use their
minds as well as their hands"
''The tremendous industrial develop
ment of the past fifteen or twenty
years" continued Mr. Wuest, has
brought about many changes in indus
trial conditions. and It is necessary
that some system of remuneration be
adopted which viii carry the certainty
OF Increased pay as an incentive TO
increased output. The most successful
of these plans is the premium system,
which makes the workman's pay com