New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-11
Retail Drygoods Dealers
Talk of Conditions at
Big Dinner.
FIND MOST STORES
PAY GOOD WAGES
Fair Name of Feminine Workers
Defended-Profit Sharing
Plan Is Discussed.

.
~ the times in legislation governing the
business relations between the employer
and the working girl" were discussed oy
George ". Perkins. Arthur Let's. OF Los
Angeles. am, Mrs Inez Mnhoisnd Boisse-
vain. Donald Dey, OF Syracuse was
POSTMASTER.
Others at the speakers table were
Joseph Appel. katherine p. Davis, Com
missioner Of Correction: Mrs. o. n. r
Belmont. Abram 7. Elkus, Samuel J.
/ Bloomingdale. Hamilton Holt. Francis
| Kellor. F. o. Linquist. Mrs John Purroy
Mitchell. George ". O'Connor. Charles G.
Phillips. 2. Colburn Pinkham and Charles
I H. Strong. ir.
Progressive Merchant laudsd'
| Arthur Let's. president and owner OF
| Buliock's Department Store ana thV
Broadway Department Store, ~ Los An
reles cal. two OF the largest department
stores In this country delivered an al
dress on THE Progressive Merchant IN
which he discussed the now and "drastic
laws governing the relations Of employer
and employe the minimum wage TOT
women, workmen's compensation, eight
hour law etc. and declared II was 'he
dutv Of every merchant TO support them.
He said that the progressive merchant
nossess.d "a soul that IS above the dollar
mark"
| "ThA progressive merchant is he VINO
has a deep interest in his employees sa'o
] Mr.. Let's He gives the best sanitary
conditions possible in his establishment
He provides the best food AT the lowest
cost TO his employees in their lunchroom.
He furnishes seats behind the counter
He has welfare workers In his establish
nent. He protects his female employees
He does not pay women dependent upon
themselves less than living ase
He encourages mutual benefit associa-
tons. lie encourages shorter hours OF
labor: is ever to be recognized as favor
| ing profit sharing plan. In consequence.
ne has the loyalty Of his employees. and
rossesses a soul that IL above the dollar
mark"
| With the minimum wage there would be
no injustice and no advantage taken. ne
said and while hitherto the law OF supply
and demand had fixed the wage schedule,
her ceforth II will be efficiency. and II the
cost of selling is increased the purchaser
| is the one who will pay.
The California merchant denounced the
idea that wages and work IN the depart
ment stores we're Instrumental In causing
| morality among the female employees.
Much has been written in magazines
and newspapers about the immortality or
female workers in department stores he
said After twenty years as head OF
department store employing several thou
sand desire TO raise my voice against the
unwarranted statements which have been
made. They are false.
From my experience, the wage question
has little TO do with the morals OF women.
I want TO saw. from my personal knowl-
edge. that there is no finer class Of women
in the ranks OF industry than those women
working in department stores. And these
false statements are an outrage and hui
initiation to them"
George ". Perkins spoke on the sub
iect Profit Sharing" Mr.. Perkins said
he had found that his views on profit
sharing and his beliefs as 10 its applica-
ton differed radically from those OF many
other people. He pointed out wherein
these differences lay. and maGe clear
what his own ideas were on the subject
Profit Sharing Plans.
/ "In the first place, I do not look upon
profit sharing as philanthropy" he said.
! II do not look upon il as form Of be-
nevolence do not look upon it as on a
/ par with gifts at Christmas time or
bonuses at the end OF the year. do not
! believe in any device or plan that even
savors OF giving a man something for
nothing ! do not believe that any broad
minded, self-respecting employer can, in
| the long run, afford to have any such ar
rangement
! The kind Of profit sharing / believe in
| is that kind which is real. which Is
genuine: that kind which promotes CO
! operation that Is thorough and efficient
between employer and employee: the same
sort OF profit sharing that is practised he
tween partners in business"
Mr.. Perkins said close observation and
| experience had convinced him that prac-
! tically all OF the many failures OF profit
| sharing plans. both in this country and
| In Europe, had occurred because At the
bottom the plans were not honestly de-
vised nor equitably worked out They
were not found 10 be mutually beneficial
| In his opinion. the speaker said, the
/ line was being rapidly crossed from the
I period where la Dor disputes could be set
| tied by mere increase In wage, and We
were entering the period where profit
| sharing in some form must be practised.
Mr.. Perkinss plan for profit sharing
started with the proposition that wages
| and salaries are paid 10 employees 10 earn
/ the fixed charges in any business. The
| employees should be informed just what
! these fixed charges were. Any surplus or
profit above the fixed charges should he
shared with the employees on percentage
as nearly a. possible in proportion 10 the
value Of their respective efforts In bring
/ lnx about the greater success.
/ True profit sharing was form OF so
I csiism OF the highest. best and most
! ideal sort. Mr. Perkins said. which makes
real partners Of employer and empioye
{ and Yet preserves the right Of private
property and promotes good will and in
| dustrial peace.