The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-09
plan Depends on Business.

lie was asked II he considered this "A
| fair wage for all day laborers in the
| automobile industry.
| at all depends upon the business OF the
| concern" he said. II believe that every
| employee should share IN the profits. but
when there ar" no profits he can't
very well share in them, and when the
| profits are small his share is necessarily
| small We couldn't do what we are dong
to-day when we started in business. The
! Employee. | believe. should be in some
| what the same position as the stock
! holder. When business is poor he cannot
| expect 90 receive more than his share OF
! the proceeds OF his work. and when busl-
ness il good he is entitled to receive his
| share"
The new plan of the company goes into
| effect next Monday Under the present
| system of Wa yes OF the concern, which has
| hlen in force for some years. Mr. Ford
| said each employee received "A bonus of
| per cent Of his yearly wages at the end
| of his first year. -. per cent. at the
| end OF his second year and 10 per cent
| at the end OF his third year
Mr.. Ford was asked whether he CON
sidered his treatment of employees in the
| past "A contributing factor to the success
| OF the company.
yes" he replied. lit is a factor. but
| the chief reasons for the success of our
business have been the manufacture of
| single article in large quantities and
| the producing of "A good. durable auto
mobile at n low price. We manufactured
| and sold l95,457 cars last year. Just
| now the factory is turn ng out between
! LOO and loo cars a day, II this de
| mand and production keep up we Will
I MAX" somewhere in the naighhorhood ri
/ 500 unU ears this year. But the number
viii depend upon business conditions
We have never had 10 lay off a man
except a few OF the higher salarled de-
] sgg nd ba Sui ia
to a question. III We should have 20 lay
Off laborers or any ordinary workman IN
the future We shall do II IN the summer
time. when he can get employment on the
farms. We don't expect to lay anybody
of, hut We shall increase the number o'
employees nf our Detroit plant this yea,
from 10000 10 $4,000, and IL is imposs
bic To tell what conditions viii arise"
What do YOU think will Ice the eifec'
Of your announcement on other manu-
fac;urers and on their relations witt
their employees" the interviewer asked
Don't know" Mr.. Ford replied. That's
their business. They have to fight their
own battles the same as l have had to
fight mine I hope that il will have the
effect of raising wages, because I believe
that the employees are entitled to better
pay II the business Is profitable. I hope
this, but | don't know anything about it
Mr. Ford admitted there might be a
the wage standard he had set and Insist
inE on their adoption by others
81 made the announcement" said Mr.
Ford, without consulting the other stock
holders Il own ma jority OF the stock
Each OF the other six stockholders il I,
director II the other stockholders do no,
agree with the plan | viii paw the money
promised out Of my own share Of the
profits, but think the other stakeholder,
viii agree.
with Nj Fords statements regarding
every workman receiving his share of
the profits Of a business in mind, the
reporter asked the automobile maker II
he leaned toward socialism.
No" he replied crisply; don't know
what IL means"
MIR Ford will be IN town until to-mor-
row. lie is here to look over the auto
mobile show, 10 call Oh Thomas 4. Edison
at orange and to attend 10 4 few matters
az husiueFs connected with his own com
pauS.