The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-04-20
Marvellous Changes Wrought in
Living Standards Among Emf
ployes of Great AutOmO-
bile Factory
AMBITION TAKES PLACE
OF AIR OF HOPELESSNESS
One Indication of New Order
Seen in Eager Desire For
Education

No. - in the Ford plant has not
received his share in the dividends.
His Is curious case and interesting
one. He is q young man and lives at
home He goes to church and is not
averse TO turning the crank when the
Ladies' Aid society gives an ice cream
supper. He does not drink or 90
out nights His record is one that
on paper would constitute IAN ex-
emplary. young man" His work at
the plant is satisfactory.
What do you suppose happened 10
him when he went 10 the investigat-
inK department? They told him the
reason he did not share in the profits
could be told In one word selfish
ness" That young man received a
good salary and spent every cent on
himself Not human being was
made happier by his existance, not a
penny went to the comfort OF anyone
else
There is considerable food for
thought In. that incideES The EN-
ployes OF. the Ford plant have another
lesson to learn, for in spite Of one OF
Y the greatest examples of generosity
=
= tsefore' tnein, isany OF theN nave thn'
i cd TO see the magic power
No one man could tell the wonder
working that is going on in the fac
tory and In the homes IL is only typi-
cal cases that can be touched upon
and conclusions drawn from them
For every case OF rising above the
low level OF poverty that is mentioned
II, q HffoIaa thnrn q fhnnGnnn
Just as interesting, just as complete
and Just as wonderful.
Take now the case OF Steve"
"Steve's" case is very typical and
very interesting and is ground in II.
self for volumes on human nature and
is responses to external forces be II
Kindness. love, charity or oppression
aud cruelty. Steve" is a Bulgarian.
For three years he worked in the
Ford factory at 23 cents an hour. He
lived In ."Hunkey" boarding house,
sent some money home to his family,
spent some for liquor and the rest
melted away, he knew not where He
had no ambition beyond hearing the
whistle blow and the coming of Sun.
day when he could rest all day. and
smoke and talk with his countrymen.
He owned one suit OF clothes and one
pair OF overalls and two shirts. He
Yag dirty by day and by night and
sullen with the burden Of labor he
did not love. He spoke but few words
OF English, and most OF them we're OF
a profane nature The only time he
softened was at night when he relax
ed from toll and drank bit from a
rusty can the men rushed" Then he
would think OF his wife and the chill
dren and sing folk songs OF his father
land in husky and keyless voice
that would have been amusing only
there was a sob OF loneliness some.
where In the false notes
Three months ago came the news
OF the "big raise"-and by the way,
all time in the Ford factory for recent
events is calculated as being before
or after the "big raise"-"Steye" went
home that night half disbelieving
half fearful that II was trick OF
capitalism, but at the same time
great hope began 10 surge In his
8 breast He sent for his wife and fam
fly and by great stint and pinching
they managed to come TO him. They
arrived a week after be had received
HIS FIRST dividend That was two
months ago.
Let us see what Steve" is doing
today. In the first place his physical
appearance has changed. He has met
the barber and also the bathtub. The
clipping OF the hair that grew low on
the forehead and the disappearance
or the rat-tail mustache have changed
him 80 that the racial amalgamation
that goes to make the new America
seems almost to have received its
start In him rather in the generations
vet to come. Steve" has bought a
home. That is, he has paid the first
instalment on 'arcottage The only
one In the family that do not appre-
ciate this cottage Is Mike" aged five,
who is spanked when he puts greasy
little hands on the new wallpaper
An American flag Is draped over
the door and "Steve's" easy chair
faces It. At night Steve" sits in his
chair and looks at the Stars and
Stripes and HIS new furniture and
his well-dressed children and smiles
dreamily into the smoke OF the very
bad tobacco that he has not learned
to give up for better. The children
chatter OF the coming day In the
American school where they are
learning to spell and to read The
wife moves about the house picking
up q bit OF line here. a baby shoe
there. giving a flick OF her apron
where a tiny spot OF dust shows, hum.
ming and with just one tiny cloud on
her horizon. Her neighbors across
the sea cannot see and envy her
Talk to Steve" and he will tell you
that Mr. Ford is the greatest man in
the world. with George Washington
next and Teddy Roosevelt third
There Is nothing that would coax
Steve" or Mrs. Steve" back TO the
tenement life. the "Hunkey" boarding
house life. the life OF dirt and squalor
rne dead hopes and ambitions. BE
FIRE I make $50 bolts q day" he says.
row work so hard for I would
thank that Mr. Ford. now make
800 bolts So I am tired from the
work. but II Is good and sing with
the clip clip OF the devil machine that
/ drive"
The wanderlust has died In the
Ford factory Since the time the
Gypsy strata entered the blood OF the
southern Europeans thp wanderlust
b1s chained,th and when In Amer
ga tconomir conditions tended TO de-
IeioD this. f,lt was railroad camp
one day ana a sewer gang In a city
f. .......I -.