The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-03

10 views-the proximity of limestone
and coal to iron ores; the facility and
economy with which ores could be
TRANSMITTED by water to some of the
great foundries, and also the disposi-
ton shown by American iron and steel
manufacturers not only to employ
| highly Competent skilled artisans, but
also t. install in til cir plants the latest
| and most highly perfected b saw
ing apparatus Mr.. Hewitt also touch
ed upon The relations which the Amer
loan ,-cp and steel manufacturers
would ultimately find it expedient. as
well as Just, to establish with their
employ ss.s. In a conversation with
the prasent writer about two years
before lis death. Mr.. Hewitt said that
he was ~rcjoiced to see that the Ameri-
can m4uufacturers of iron and steel
products were beginning to understand
the true philosophy of the relations
between employer and employee. He
furthermore said trat while he could
not exDect to live long enough to see
nroft staring established upon a sound
basis and not upon one of philanthropy
or charity, yet he was certain that the
generat,5p which succeeded his own
would rld that the skilled artisans
and othe~ employees of the American
iron and steel manufactures and kim
dred E4nufactories were becoming
participants and owners, really as
small CAPITALISTS, i'll the operation of
the stee. and iron plants. h Mr..
Hewitt predicted is now being justified
nv the large and increasing ownership
in the United States Steel corporation
by its employees.
The Benefit of Cooperation.
Mr.. Hewitt was one of the first to
expond the philosophy of cooperation
as opposed to fierce and cutthroat
competition. He believed that CO.
operation could be established while at
the same time there was reasonable
and very healthy competition. The
cooperation would prevent ruinous
competitions; it would stop what. he
called the solid business of driving
manufacturers with small means to
the wall.
artisan, every laborer, should nave at
least one day of rest in the seven of
the week., and he was confident that
manufacturers could discover how this
could be accomplished without any
way proving to be a detriment in the
operation of their plant.
The Committee of Welfare.
In Judge Gary's address to the Amer
lean Iron and Steel Institute he de-
often expressed by Mr.. Hewitt-nam-
", the true relation between the en-
ployerS and those who are employed.
Judge Gary spoke with approval of the
fact that the seven day week has been
completely eliminated In all of
the principal iron and steel plants and
seemed to be rejoiced to be able to say
that it had been discovered that the
six days of labor in the week could
the artisans share without affect
ing plants which must be operated con-
tinuously, day in and day out.
He also spoke of the deep interest
has taken for a long time in the
of the true attitude of those
who employ b toward those who
receive wage for their work There is
-.- L,A 49,
hope is now changing to conviction
employers and employees in the
steel and iron industry of the United
States are beginning 20 understand
the relations which will be salu-
to both should be and also to I'M
derstand how these relations can be
compassed.
The Spirit of Cooperation.
1t is now recognized not only by@stu-
dents of our economic conditions, but
also by many of the greater minds
engaged in industry, that the policy Of
cooperation, which began to be tested
about fifteen years ago and which was
first sincerely and earnestly adopt
the United States Steel corpora
ton was organized, is the true economic
policy. Some things which Judge Gary
has said to his friends and other init
which he had made in public
addresses show that lie understands
and that he feels that the public Is
beginning to understand that co-opera-
ton can be maintained while at h
time really intense, but entirely
reasonable and healthful, competition
is in progress.
Cooperation, in Judge Gary's view,
means friendly, cordial, h~ospitable re-
lations between all of those who are
engaged in like industry. In the ear
days. at the time when Judge Gary
actively into the association OF
the iron and steel industry, the atti-
tude, as he described it, or disposition
Of the manufacturers oe iron and steel.
was calculated to ~engender a feeling or
great animosity. Some of the methods
were ruthless and unrestrained. In
jury was wrought upon those who hap
pened to be weaker at times. quite
naturally, than were those who Were
able to do this injury. This was com
as it was understood in those
That kind of competition, Judge
Gary says, was sometimes carried so
far as to completely crush a COMPETE
tor. The modern way, in his view, is
cooperation, very much as
tor is established between banks,
the agencies of the clearing
house associations. The banks are
ready to assist one another. They in
upon honorable business methods.
standards of business conduct
are high and must be accepted by ev-
DdIlk WHICH IS d InSIIIOeT VI II rs
ISOLATION, or else that bank must for
its membership. This cooperation
made it possible for the clearinghouse
association in the panic of 1907 to act
n each community as a banking unit,
all their resources to the
purpose and doing that so
successfully as to check panic within a
weeks after 1t began. But that
inc of cooperation does not prevent
the k%eenest, although perfectly honor
competition. 1t was precisely