The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-07
Attitude of EmplOyes

 giving to welfare work among their employees is sure to have far-reaching effect for good. While social workers have accomplished much for human ity in practical way, many well meaning sociologists have overdone reform" But so long as the efforts of social "uplifters" are directed at the improvement of living conditions and the general welfare of industrial wage earners, they will have abundant sym pathy
 One of the most wholesome econom- ic achievements of the United States Steel corporation was the inauguration of broad system of welfare work. All the subsidiary companies of the corporation have accomplished won ders in improving housing conditions. Not only have the subsidiary compan- ies of the Steel corporation expended vast sums of money on sanitary de- vices, but the homes of employees in mining camps and around great in dustrial plants are made attractive to the eye as we'll as comfortable places of abode.
 Another important thing the Steel corporation has done is that of invit- ing employees, without regard to class, to become stockholders. Many com mon laborers, as well as officials and skilled mechanics who draw large pay, own snales in tho corporation. The very fact that thousands of employees on the pay rolls of the United States Steel companies are stockholders naturally tends to create a good feel ing hetwecn capital and labor, so faI as the corporation goes. The old say ing that corporations have no souls used to be accepted as something of a truism, but today hundreds of in stances can be cited of manufacturing companies giving deal of thought to making the working hours of the toll CTS less irksome than they were in former years. And. after all, the hu manitarian tendencies of today beal economic fruit. As rule the better treated the toilers are the better serv ice they will render. The two policies of the Steel corporation touching em ployes-social welfare and distribut ing shares of stock on easy terms are more and more telling each year
 At the annual meeting of the stock holders of the Steel corporation helt recently, many wage workers who ar' pate in the proceedings. Judge Gary the chairman of the corporation, pre- sided and from a stenographic re port of the meeting, workmen evi denced as much interest and felt a much at home as the millionaire stockholders. Here was furnished remarkable example of the harmon. existing n Steel corporation ranks Several of the small shareholders gay, enthusiastic testimony to the human manner in which ,employesa wer treated It seemed to be hard fo some of them to say enough in prais of the corporations attitude towards the employees of its subsidiary com panies. When Samuel R. Maitland o Newcastle, Pa, rose to speak, Chair man Gary, not having personal ac quaintance with him, asked: "Wha is your business?"
 Water tender at No. 8 and No. boiler house."
 You work on blast furnace?"
 "Yes, sir"
 After further colloquy, MT. Maitland made an eloquent speech, and con lcluded by saying: And now, if yo, will just bow your heads, we will of f fer a little prayer if that will be al fright"
 "No objections" said Chairman IGary.
 This was MT Maitland's thanksgiv ling: Our God, we thank Thee fo these officials and these good me- who have taken such ao interest in tn welfare of humanity, and rejoice i Jour hearts for the blessed privilege c looking up to Thee in tharkfulness fo lit. And we would pray for the maj who works and all who keep us tc Igethe. as one great family and orscn