The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-07-16

better knowledge of operating de-
tails TO the greater business aptitude
of the office force This desirable re-
suit could be brought about only by
cooperation among the men. 1t would
be assisted by joint cooperation on
the part of the companies--not by OPP
posing labor representation ON the
board. The general impression among
the men that their presence there
would be looked upon as an Intrusion,
and that every means would be used
to neutralze their Influence, | think
would be soon dispelled provided their
representative did not adopt the atti-
tude Of setting at defiance all the Gus
tomary usages of such consulting bod
les, and of that there is probably but
small danger In the many prolonged
conferences between Workmen and
company officers, where they have
reverse of that spirit has been eX-
hibited.
Even such small scattered holdings
as the men now have, say in the sub
sidiary companies of the iron aud
steel industries, if held and voted as q
unit, would constitute a notable fac
tor. Their full Influence ght be Sc
cured through proxies, but as power
full a force would not be exercised by
each man acting for himself, as if the
total holdings of all, the men were
handled h. holding committee. The
men would be borrowing methods
from tEeir masters
In most manufacturing and min
ing enterprise men are wen PAID, anu
if the inducement to save were strong
en- the amount accumulated for in
vestment would be very considerable.
And if the Investments We're made in
the funds of the companies for which
the men work it would not only give
them a voice in the management, but
II would also give to the enterprise
itself more stable character, for
men who have an interest in the work
wouId not come and go as is then
wont, nor throw up their jobs on the
most trivial excuse. They would, as
shareholders, look at the works as
Their own and take in them the pride
Of ownership"
There are numerous corporations
big and little that are doing this very
thing, l. e., interesting their employees
as stockholders, making them VERT
able partners in the business. Thu
biggest corporation Of all--the L. ;
Steel Corporation--is leader in thi
movement.
At the last annual meeting Of tn
several of its employee stockholders
holding the proxies of their fellows
We're present and with Judge Gary i
the chair the doings of the company
especially as related to its employs
were discussed. Several of the work
, men made interesting statements a
to the existing conditions in the stce
Industry in 50 far 0s working condl
TONS are concerned. onc VI lNCIlt Az
Maitland, remarked: This corpora
ton is doing more for humanity tina
the United States is doing for human
ity" Another, Mr.. Smith, said
sometimes feel that some Of our dem
agogues who pretend to be the labor
ers' greatest friends, after all are tn
laborers' greatest enemies"
It certainly is a new departure Il
the meetings of corporations when in
dividual stockholders, who are EN-
ployes. appear and speak in the strait
they did at the Steel Corporation
meeting. May not this growing move
ment be the dawning of a better da.
and a clearer understanding betweel
employer and employe? And may no
the demagOgues now rampant II
Washington and the self-seekers nov
paramount in the council rooms of or
gani2ed labor find that they have beer
backing. the wrong horse?