United labor bulletin., 1911-02-23

The United States is now passinl
through a crisis greater than the revo
ution or the Civil war. There is on'
hing which | think would help reliev'
he situation and that is less competition
Under present conditions it is impossible
o live and prosper under the rules lai'
iown by our forefathers, because thing
nave changed and we must adapt oui
selves to changing conditions. Eacl
must solve the problem TO
tself, but 1 think the time is ripe for
movement, broad, human
lnion between capital and labor in whicl
each should meet the other half way"
William G. McAdoo, tunnel builder, ez
pressed a similar conviction, deprecatin
he fact that the common people" ar
lot treated with more consideration. II
declared that the time is coming whel
he masses will force recognition of thei
tights.
Leslie's Weekly, that great corporation
paper that at all times endeavors to fin
argument to bolster up the tricks of car
tai. has this to say regarding Perkins
Morgan, ct al:
Let Labor Share the Profit.
Indicative of the increasing spirit
of cordiality and cooperation be-
tween labor and capital is the grow
ing custom among large employers
of distributing LIBERAL bonuses to
their employees at Christmastime-
The United States Steel Corporation
announces that its bonuses this year
total s2.7O0,O0O as against s2,000.000
last year. Pittsburg and Chicago
have each distributed $3,000.0O0, and
the banks, trust companies and COM
mercial houses in all our cities ex-
hibit the same generous Christmas
spirit. The distribution in the case
OF the Steel Corporation VIII be in
. the nature of a reward of merit, the
bonuses covering a wide range ac-
cording to the efficiency and punctu-
ality of the individual employe and
the practical suggestions he may
have made during the year This
general plan is rapidly growing in
favor everywhere.
The method of the International
Harvester Company, which leads
the Chicago list with an appropria-
ton of half a million. is particularly
deserving of attention. The distri-
button has not been prompted by
passing feeling of Christmas good
will. nor is it to be performed in
of a carefully wrought out profit
sharing plan, adopted several years
ago. Every employe is eligible, and
the amount of reward in every in
stance is fixed by the individual
merit of the employe and with no re-
lation whatever to the salary re-
ceived. Some, accordingly, Will
benefit largely, while others may re-
ceive nothing at all. Having the op-
ton of taking money or stock. the
majority so far have taken stock and
thus have become active partners in
the business. This, on large scale,
is a modification of the old custom
of taking into the firm the young
man who had proven his value and
indispensableness.
The extreme labor agitator and
the Socialist would doubtless advise
employees against this method OF
identifying themselves with the firm
or corporation by which they are en-
ployed. Yet it is the most reason
able as well as the most practicable
method of bridging the chasm be-
tween employer and employe. One
of the strongest features of this
Notwithstanding plan is that IL recoS-
pizes the differences among work
men and distributes reward solely
on the basis of efficiency and merit.
For the proit-sharing plan and the
policy of cooperation in place OF
competition in the Steel Corporation
and particularly in the International
Harvester company. George w. Per
kins is responsible more than any
other. That he may hereafter de-
vote his whole time to bringing about
mutual understanding and co-opera-
ton on the part of the corporations
on the one side and the public and
labor on the other. he has just re-
tired from the firm of ]. p Morgan
& Co. For this work of mediation
no other man is so well equipped,
and the decision to devote to it the
rest of his life promises much for a
peaceful solution of the interlacing
problems of labor and capital. In
cooperation and profit sharing on
the basis of merit. he has hit upon
a Just solution of the problem
Faithful employees are essential fac
tors in building up business; they
should share its success, and when
through ownership of stock they
once become identified with the bus
mess. strikes or even serious differ
ences will become obsolete.
To every man this country offers
the opportunity to rise through eI-
ficient and faithful service, and any
custom that would take from the
workingman his Independence and
self-respect should be condemned.
The public or the government owes
no man a living except as he earns
IL and deserves II, and when he earns
it he should have ii not through iips
or gratuities. but as matter of right
and justice. A happy and stable so
cial order can be built on no other
foundation.
For fear that some of our many read
ers may at some time become entangle'
in the meshes of the Steel Corporation
the Harvester company or of some othe