Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-05-23


single institution exists that can hold
boy alone, or do all boy could have
done for him. alone. How much does
the church today. in the Sunday school,
supervise the play life of boys?
Churches should have play grounds for
boys. The day is not fan, off when the
Sunday schools will supervise the play
life of the boys. Play without religion
is characterless and religion without
play is lifeless. Until we combine the
two we cannot have the religious or
the physical life we should have for
boys today. We are approaching him
through the religious side only.
THE church's business IS to.get hold
of the boy with all his life and just
control or help that lad to control the
splendid powers God has given him."
The afternoon session opened at 2
O'clock, Horace Day of Auburn pre-
siding. The Bible study was led by
Walter A. Danforth of Bangor ana
was followed by an address by Charles
Fl. Towson of New York. who chose
for his subject, Principles and Meth
DDS of Welfare Work" He said:
welfare work is not an industrial
lightning rod to avert strikes-nor is
it AN investment by which the work.
ers efficiency will be increased, the
fact that it sometimes does this to the
contrary Notwithstanding To install
| welfare work with the primary pur-
pose of avoiding labor troubles is a
misrepresentation of funds and EVIL
dences lack of knowledge Of human
| nature.
"rhat strikes and other labor diff
culties have been avoided as re-
| suit of well conducted welfare work
is certain, but this has been, we be-
! lieve, invariably by-product rather
than the object of such work. Welfare
| work from the manufacturers point
of view, as it's name implies, is or
should be an unselfsh expression of
he employers interest in the well-be-
! ing of his employees, and the type OF
| this welfare work will probably in
| terpret the estimate that the employer
holds of his employees. Hence, it dis
| covers to them his attitude of mind. If
| this attitude is paternal they will dis
cover it quickly, and as rule as
| quickly resent it, though not openly.
| he considers the welfare of his en-
ploycs from a standpoint of fairness:
f. for example, he has high regard
or the physical welfare Of the en-
ployes, his sanitary work shop, baths,
| ockers, lunch room, recreation rooms.
| emergency hospitals, etc, will reveal
| it, and if these things are provided as
| a part of the proper equipment OF the
plant and not as philanthropy the en-
ployes will appreciate it though not ac-
| knowledge themselves as under Sc
cial obligation for these things. Their
| acceptance will be accompanied by
| the recognition of the fairness and fiji
ness of such a regard for the physical
well-being of the workers, and they
| will at least not resent it.
"If first the measure of welfare work
which is fairly and fifty due employees
| be provided as a part of the business
whether it be good light comforts or all
of these. then the employer may add to
those the element of fraternai considera
| ton and make possible a type of welfare
work that will be more than fair type
| that shall express not paternalism, not
fairness only, but positive fraternalism,
regard for more than the mere work
| life of employees.
| Given this spirit of fraternity and the
question of the relation of employer and
employee is more than half settled, for
men are quick to sense the truth. Add
| to this discernment on the part of the
| employer, and it is reasonably certain
that he will know what his employees will
really appreciate in the way of welfare
work.
But now arises the practical question
of method. He knows the point of view
| of the workers, that cooperation and not
| coddling is the need but how to put CO.
operation into action is real problem.
| If it were a problem in machinery, he
would send for an expert in bumanics,
one, skilled in dealing with men individ-
ually and in groups. Such experts are
available and their larger use would
mean fewer failures of well intended eff
forts in welfare work.
Nine times of of 10 such an expert
will approach the problem of welfare
work from the employees side first He
Twill not erect buildings and turn them
over to the operatives He will discover
or create demand for the good thing:
he will arouse the initiative of the work.
ers; they will suggest the things they
need and they will offer cooperation with
the employer in paying the cost and in
responsibility for conducting the work,
but this should be done under trained
leadership. Such leadership is available
through such organizations as the Ma
tional Civic Federation's welfare DEPART
ment, the schools of social engineering,
and especially through the Young Mems
Association which, more than any other
organization, is extending it's activities
in welfare work in industrial commune
ties. in mill villages, mining towns. lum-
Der camps and among the non-English
speaking workers. 1t is interesting to
note the favor which this organization
is meeting in the manufacturing towns
of New England. as, for example. Lowell,
Lawrence and Manchester, where new
buildings are being erected and where
some of the largest manufacturers. such
as the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co. and
the Arlington mills, have made large
corporation contributions.
THE modern Young Mems Christian
in an industry or Industrial
community seems to furnish a desirable
point of contact between EMPLOYER and
employee, because it provides a sane ba-
-ic, tho