The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-17

tHuelnltely, and together represent
out d lew simple phases of the ma
chInlsts trade, which is characterized
by a multiplicity Of practical prob
lens involving intricate movements.
MISUNDERSTANDING
a comprehensive industrial and social
proposition has been absurdly over
trumpeted, Mr.. Taylor's own claims
frequently being the basis. 1t obvi-
ously is inapplicable to most of the
work measured only by time, h unit
IN a large percentage of all industry
and other service. 1t is not a fact, as
It's supporters assert, that efficiency
has proceeded without occasioning
strikes. 1t is a fact that efficiency is
interviewer with the piece and bonus
and contract and filming systems, with
their burdens and abuses.
Let US review this summary and
cite facts bearing upon its points. AS
to the industrial disease of soldier
ing" Mr.. Taylor, writing of the lid
vale works, says: The Workmen to-
gether had cavefully planned just
how fast each lob should be done,
and they had set a pace for each ma
chine, which amounted to about one
third Of a good days work In his
edition Of shop Management jus,
issued, Mr.. Taylor writes of most of
the men in the shop" that they will
soldier to the extent Of three or
fou hundred per cent. if allowed to
do so. The charge against the Amer
lean w~orkingman, it is to be clearly
understood, is the starting point of
Mr.. IaylOrS system. He depicts, in
a vivid coloring a sort of detestable
cancer, with intent to follow up his
diagnosis with his cure-all. He thus
presents to US the played out meth
DDS of the magic soap advertiser. His
ex~aggerations are apparent to all en-
ployers and employees of average ex-
perience; as they mustAbe also to per-
sons of common sense AS a matter
of fact, if a force Of workmen sh olld
loaf away only one-half their time,
it would pay to employ n supervis-
ing taskmaSter to every three men,
to do nothing but watch that the
workers each hould do a fair days
work. This Indictment of the wage
earning classes by Mr.. Taylor has
been demonstrated by Mr.. Gompers
to be a stupid libel. It's complete refu-
tation being Of the first importance,
MI. Gompers' treatment Of the point
is here quoted.
"It would offend the common sense
Of even the casual observer to main
tain that piecework rates usually
lead to soldering It is the univer-
sal testimony Of men who ave earn
ed wages at pieceWork hat the ten
dency to speeding up comes from the
man himself. He wan the highest
amount of wages possible on Satur-
day night. Now, what proportion Of
the w~age-earners in his nation are
engaged in piecework Here is a list
Of occupations in which it is more or
less common:
Bakers, BARRIERS. blacksmiths, boil
ermakers, bookbinders, boot and shoe
workers, broom and Whisk makers,
brush makers car workers, chain
~ o{0or ~ cloth hat ana
cap makers. p lace curtain OPP
eratives, watch case ~engravers, fur
workers, garment workers, grass
bottle blowers, glove workers.,
pocket knife blade grinders
and fnishers, table knife grin
tin workers, jewelry workers.
fathers. leather workers. photographic
press-feeders, longshoremen, metal
polishers, Goa and metal1iferous
miners, molders, plate printers, pot
tiers, pulp, sulphite and paper mill
workers, shingle stove
mounters, tailors, textile workers. tin
workers, printers, unholsterers, elias
tic gOring WeaverS, wire WeaVerS.
wood workers, and other minor call
ings too numerous to mention.
when this list is studied, the
reader sees at once a direct contra
diction in this considerable proper
ton Of industry of Doctor Taylor's as
sertiOn as to the extent of the plague
Of soldering or deliberate inefhcien-
cy.
What as to the large class of oc-
equations which move by timetable
Take as an example the passenger
! trains or the electric street car syS-
TENS throughout h United Staes.
We have in view in this category
many other occupations. including ell
evator running. all fOrms Of police
work, the officials great and small en-
Gagged in steamship transportation.
Tn the same class fall cooks, walters,
hotel and restaurant Help in general
In fact, we have, further, actors, sta
tionary engineers and firemen, musi-
clans. postoffice clerks, carriers, tel
egraphers, statesmen and many stage
employees. Is il possible for men IN
| these occupations to deliver a third OF