The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-02-21

" " Whittier shall he go, where
shall he stop, how shall he
exist without preying upon his fellow man,
for isn't it as true as history itself that
every mans hand is against him? But the
problem that has puzzled sociologists, hui
manitarians and philanthropists in general
since time immemorial has at last been
solved. although it has taken a super
philanthropist to do It.
Il shall take every convict out of Sing
Sing and make a man Of him." said Henry
Ford. multi-millionaire automobile manu-
facturer of Detroit, to the United States
commission on industrial relations IN
New York the other day.
MY idea is justice. not charity" con-
tinued the quiet, difident spare man in
telling of the success of the proft-sharing
plan in his mammoth establishments.
scattered in fifty cities of the world. My
idea is: aid men TO help themselves. I
have very little use for charities and phil
anthropieS, as such. Nearly all men are
willing TO work for an adequate reward"
he said, as he explained how the Ford
plant was able to reap profit of more
than $25 200. 900 in the year 1914 on a
capitalization of only $4,000, 000-an ex-
PLANTATION of the workings the first year
of the profit-sharing plan by which nine
tenths of the 5000 Ford employees got
minimum wage of So a day
Treating men like men in man-fash-
lon" he said, worked so we'll that we had
to use the curb rather than the spur
Then this most modest of modern hui
manitarians, talking of his great work of
benefcence for the army of employed in
voice so low that it scarcely could be
heard ten feet away, and acting more like
a schoolhoy brought to task for some mis-
deed, gave expression to a few of his
views on mans duty to man, after tell
ing his own story of his life-a biography
consisting of ninety-nine words, Here it
is:
! began life as q farmer on farm
near Detroit. lived there until ! was
seventeen, and got my education at
country school. | went to Detroit and
got place as a machinist's apprentice.
l went to business college while was
learning my trade, and after a while
went to work for the Edison IIIumnat-
ing Company. In a year ! took charge
as chief engineer. changed il from
twelve to eighthour shifts, and got more
work and bigger earnings with no more
men. went into the automobile bust
ness in 1898.
But for his views on the relation of en-
ployer to employee:
No man can bring Up family and
h., -, ba 10
of wages said Mr. Ford. Besides, there
IS ever attendant The fear and worry in
the struggle for existence properly to pro-
vide for the home and dependents. toSeth-
err with the dread of what might happen
should the job be lost. that detracts from
the average workingman's efficiency.
Il do not think that any man can do
good work mentally and physically for
more than eight hours a day. The sooner
men can be taught that labor is just as
much of an asset, and more. than ma
chinery and buildings, the sooner labor
will be properly recognized.
Il believe il is better, wiser and more
Just TO make many men comfortable than
to make few men very rich.
"One cannot expect a man to give his
best efforts when he is in debt and has
not enough TO keep his family on.
Any manufacturing establishment that
Is successful making Il Single pfOuuCl
should increase the business and its plant
and make more work TO employ more men.
IF corporations are overcapitalized they
must necessarily Cypress labor to make
a showing. But if they grow from small
beginnings. naturally. and stick to one
legitimate product, balanced conditions are
bound TO follow. In my judgment mere
big business is no objection If 1t is not
ovcrcapitaliZed
Il don't know anything about labor
unions | have never had anything to do
with them. We do not question our men
regarding membership in any union.
The knowledge that market rates of
wages are not sufficient for men properly
to care for themselves and their depend
ents. and the environment in which such
employees are thus forced to live, give rise
to mental anxiety and physical condf-
ton that makes it utterly impossible for
the human agency to deliver all the enort
that it is capable of in fulfilling the best
and larger functions for which it was de-
signed at work, at home and in the COM
Great freedom of speech and express
sion Of ideas should exist in work, and
Q great many. valuable suggestions are