The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-04
REDFLELD HEART SE4RCHER UNSEN71MENTAL And COMACENT

| ter to Mr.. Redfeld at almost the last
moment. 1t was q call int0S the Cabi-
net, and was put into Mr.. Redheld' &
hands on the Friday before the Tuesday
when President Wilson was inaugurated.
The Brooklyn bosses could not foreknow
the humilisting day when Rednelds
| private o. K. would be required for Q
Federal job
The Secretary of Commerce investi-
gates the organisation and management
of corporations He has no authority,
however, over railroads. Furthermore,
he is directed to scrutinize and foster
commerce. He is the business man, II
might be said, at the solemn table Of the
Presidents counselors. His eye, In a
way, is supposed to be on iron, steel. Oh.
sugar, tobacco. and other products more
or less monopolized. The detection of
cooperative lawbreakers, because he
must know their management. is one of
the duties he is required to perforln.
Their prosecution is the employment OF
the Attorney General. I asked Secretary
Redfield IL the morals and practices OF
business men are growing better o.
worse.
The New American Conscience.
Better. very much better" he an
swered. "A new conscience now governs
the United States officially, commercially.
and socially. 1t is felt everywhere. Once
a man could be purposely ruined by be-
ing undersold in certain zones Of his
trade. The railway on which he de-
pended for transportation could be
bought away from him and his goods, or
rebates could be paid his rival. What
call the new conscience has stopped all
these tragedies against fairness and hon.
esty.
mo man today can cut prices in Gal
weston simply to harry q competitor
into selling out. 1t is crime to give or
accept rebates on freight shipped on our
railroads Manufacturers In Boston can
not combine with manufacturers in st.
Louis and fix the prices Of their prod
ucts. The supply of goods to a merchant
in Cleveland cannot be shut off merely
because he refuses to retail them at the
figures established by the makers In
Philadelphia. The new conscience has
taught US that We are in business to rem
der a service to the public as well as tn
gain a profit for ourselves. 1t Is NJ
weak ideal wandering aimlessly through
the corridors of commerce, but a living.
acting, uplifting force. 1t is felt in all
the currents of our life. 1t Is making
better laws. 1t is changing conditions in
factories and the viewpoint Of the men
who own the factories"
you were one of the first men in the
country to experiment with welfare
work." / said. what was the result"
Satisfactory in all respects. J. II.
Williams. who made me junior partner
in his establishment, was greatly inter-
ested in the happy surroundings and
mental attitude of his workmen. He
gave them bathing facilities long before
welfare work became known as a policy
or a phrase went along with him in
his opinions and efforts and lived
through and emerged from the day when
man was thought to be of less value
than the machine he was employed to
operate.
There Is Money in Happiness.
welfare work is an undeniable sue
cess. provided il is not frill to cover
up wrongs or deficiencies. 1t should be
state of mind and not a means Of
depriving men of the things they ought
to have. Three fundamental require
ments must be met, however, before 1t
is attempted First. good wages. Mr.
Williams paid higher wages than were
paid by his competitors. Second, regu-
larity Of employment Third, reasonable
hours. Welfare work, when supplement-
ing these conditions, is acceptable to
the employee and profitable to the en-
ployer II welfare work Is intended to