The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1914-01-24
!, FORD. PLAN VIII. NOT
I'll SOLVE LABOR PROBLEM

81 - = ~
To the Editor: !. ..= 5.s5
r E I read with considerable interest
your editorial on the Welfare plaa
instituted by the Henry Ford Motor
company at Detroit. While I agree
with the sentiments you express his
pla< Will offer no solution Of the
labor problem '...y !. D., n. II
What Mr.. Ford has done is to
make use Of all opportunity to en-
nance the material prosperity of his
own employees. but such an oppor-
runity is not within the grasp of all
employers Or even of any consider
tuted policy which ought to benefit
him as much as his workmen. In
fact, If it does not do Sc, it will have
no value as a social experiment. It
IS only insofar as it will encourage
other manufacturers to deal more
generously with their employees that
1t can prove useful as means of
lettering the condition OF any one
outside: of his factory.
- Must Produce Profits.
In order to encourage others to
follow his example his plan must
prove, to be a means of producing
profits as we'll as a means of sharing
them. But not many employers will
De encouraged to do likewise, and
there is a good reason why they
won't. Mr.. Ford is acting in accord
ance with advice seldom given to
employers, but very frequently vol
unteered to employees.
give more and better service than his
duty actually requires. Don't watch
The clock" employees are told, start
to work Il little ahead of your reg
ular time and stay a little after the
whistle blows to quit work. Your
employer, will show his apprecia.-
t1on." The flaw in that advice is
that following it can benefit an en-
ploye only SO long as such conduct
Will DE exceptional. If all followed
It none would have any advantage.
Mr.. Ford realizes that it benefits an
employer just as much to have the
good will Of his employees as vice
Will Have Good VIII.
In adopting what must appear to
measure, he surely ought to obtain
such good will and that ought to
show results in Improvement in guam
tity and quality Of output per man.
This has been the result with other
manufacturers who have been broad
minded enough to realize that the
good will of employees is a valuable
asset well worth cultivating.
Tom l.. Johnson knew this. In his
steel rail mill at Johnstown, Penn
sylvania, he. paid more than the mar
ket rate for labor. He found this
brought to him the best quality of
labor, leaving the inferior grades to
his neighLor. Golden Rule" Jones
had the same experience in Toledo,
as also have TTels & Co. in Phlladel-
phia- But If al employers were to do
the same thing, this advantage would
be lost. So Unless an employer has a.
monopoly or has succeeded in maxi
ing his trade mark a valuable aid to
the sale Of his product, he will prob
ably not see his way clear to initial
ing Mr.. Ford,
Privilege Still Remains.
= Even if all employers could and
would do assam. Ford has DONE. ex-
listing economic conditions would
soon deprive the employees of all
financial benefits. It would finally
cause, as do all improvements an in
crease in land values sufficiently
great to enable land owners to ap-
propriate in increased rents all the
financial benefits. Not until land
values will be taken for public use
can either employer or employee de-
rive permanent benefits from any
public improvement.
Ford's plan to benefit. any one at
all under existing conditions, mus:
remain restricted to a small circle of
Industries. To become a benefactor
in a broad sense man with the
good impulses Of Mr.. Ford must CO.
operate with those who are endeav-
oring to. have land values appro-
rated for public use, by which
means only can general application
of golden rule principles prove gen
eral beneft-James G. O'Neill.
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