The Commonwealth. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1911-1914, 1914-01-22
CAPITALIST BENEvoLENCE
(By JOHN McsLARRoW)

no IipiJhiob papers nave Sououl
ed lot of space recently, advertising
the Unparalleled Benevolence" of tn
Ford Motor company, and the WON
DERFUL profit sharing" schem,
which that institution has just adopt
ed.
OF course, knew from experience
that a capitalist lin his right mind
never GIVES his slaves ANYTHING
knew there was a "nigger in the
woodpile" somewhere. However, be
fore discussing the matter, l though
it best to secure, if possible, full par
ticulars of the matter.
now have the full text of the
plan" together with comments by
Mr.. Ford, and the secretary of the
company, Mr.. Couzens.
Instead of ONE niger" I find q
whole company of "colored gentle
men," Lack of space prohibits dis
cussion of all features, so I will just
call attention to the following from
the statement of Mr.. Couzens:
'In connection with the launching
of the profit sharing plan, the Ford
company has organized a sociological
department, which will keep close
watch on themanner of living of all
employees, and those found using their
extra money in an improper manner
will Immediately cease to be benefi-
ciaries under the plan"
Speaking further, Mr.. Couzens says:
"The profit sharing plan is not to be
looked upon as an increase in wages.
He (Mr Ford) believes it will materi-
ally improve the standard of our en-
ployes."
The profit sharing plan" IS NOT
NEW, it has been used with consid-
cradle advantage Ito the boss) many
times before, and I will be surprised
indeed, if any Socialist or intelligent
unionist is taken in by it.
Mr.. Ford and his colleagues are
touted as great benefactors, and his
sole motive is said to be a desire to
benefit his fellow men.
We cannot KNOW Mr.. Ford's mo-
tive. No one knows WHAT the mo-
tive is, except Mr.. Ford himself; and
it is extremely doubtful if Mr.. Ford
could analyze his own motive. But,
the question of MOTIVE is imma-
terial. If Mr.. Ford had no other mo-
tive than that of increasing his imme-
diate income, he could not have hit
upon a better plan, or one in which
the probability of success is so great
1t is a fact, known of old, that a
kind master means contented slaves.
In the days of chattel slavery in the
south, the WISE master gave his
slaves many privileges They had
Saturday afternoons off; they had
good clothes to wear, and good food
to eat. They were allowed (when
work on the plantation was slack to
help to load and unload steamboats,,
and do other odd jobs FOR WAGES.
AND THEY WE'RE ALLOWED TO
KEEP WHAT THEY EARNED IN
THIS WAY.
Such slaves were LOYAL, and when
they had work to perform for their
master they worked like-NIGGERS.
1t is the same today. Any employer
of labor who is far sighted enough to
give his employees better wages and
shorter hours and better working con-
ditions than those endured by the
slaves of his compeers, will always
have loyal workmen. They will work
with all their might, and with all their
skill for such a master. Thus in
creasing his profit to the point where
his "benevolence" will have cost him
And besides, if this "benevolence"
is judiciously advertised (and it AL
WAYS is, and in the instance under
discussion, most especially the in
creased demand for the product Of
this particular establishment will be
tremendous. For, no matter what we
say, the general public" always likes
to see the workers do well, so long as
this welfare costs nothing
When this increased wage is in the
form Of profit sharing" the incentive
to loyalty. and increased productivity
on the part OF the slaves IS well nigh
And under ordinary
conditions. it would seem that nothing
furthef would be required to keep
them humble and submissive. But I'm
these periIous times. when the incor-
rie.bIe j. W Wand wild eyed Social
ist is abroad in the land, one cannot
DE too careful So. to protect our
layes from evil influences. We VIII or
ganize a sociological department 10
keep close watch on the manner Of
living of an employees. and those found
using their money in am improper
manner win Immediately cease TO be