Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-07

tuQe Tor the use or muCn common
sense between importing arms for hos
tile purposes and padding with shot
gun across the imaginary international
line dividing the Niagara river. At
least, we have yet to hear any evidence
that the two American hunters broke
the law with fiagrancy sufficient to
merit death.
Having rifles and target, the Dor
der patrol shot, and two citizens OF a
friendly nation fell. With relations be.
tween Great Britain and the United
States lacking something Of perfect
accord through the presidents protest
of English shipping regulations, the
British colony next door to us will do
we'll to order the interposition of lit
tie reasonable investigation between
challenging and firing along the Dor
der.
Burlington Hawk-Eye: And this year
ought to record great advance In the
efficiency of the national guard. 1t Is
generally conceded the state militia OF
nearly all, If not all, the states come
far short Of either the ideal or prac-
tical military defense in time of war.
1t Is a subject deserving the very ear
nest consideration of congress.
New York Post: If the war continues
until March 81, the end of the British
fiscal year, it will have cost Great
Britain, by the chancellor of the ex-
cnequer's estimate, $1,642OO0,0O0, or
about $7,500,OOO day. But the latest
weekly report at hand from the ex-
nh Pr
the third week of September as $751;
900, or $8,S00,O00 a day.
Cedar Rapids Gazette: 1t will be re-
membered that great many people
scoffed at Henry Ford's idea when the
automobile manufacturer announced
that no laborer in his factory would re-
ceive less than five dollars day, and
that every man who was on his pay
roll would have to live up to certain
standards of living prescribed by him.
1t was said that Ford merely was
trying another advertising scheme and
getting away with it, that he only was
looking for publicity and didn't care
a hang whether his employees benefit
ed or not Mr.. Ford took this criticism.
in good FORM He was willing to let
the critics howl until exhaustion fore
ed them to stop, at which time he be-
lieved the results of his plan would be
Forthcoming.
Now it develops that in the year
since the scheme went into effect:
Ford's employees have paid nearly
$1,20O,00O on homes worth $5,000,0O0.
They are depositing in banks or pay
ing on real estate an average of $48.75
per man each month.
The gain in bank deposits since Ford
began to tell his men how much they
should save and how they should spend
their money has been one hundred and
thirty per cent; in homes owned
eighty-seven and one-half per cent; in
life insurance eighty-six per cent This
for the direct economic influence of the
Ford plan for personal benefit to the
Workmen.
Results in the factory have been
equally gratifying. The efficiency Of
the men has greatly improved. Men of
immoral habits are not given work,
and those who are not healthy are CIV
en- every assistance in their attempt to
improve physically. Their habits have
been corrected and, taken all in all,
the enormous factory houses as clean
a crowd of men as is to be found any
where.
Home conditions are better, finances
are better, morals and habits are bet
ter, working conditions are better, la
Dor shows increased efficiency and
wages arc higher. Fords scheme was
a distinct success. Were it to be tried
out in great many other lines of in
dustry as large as Ford's the social and
industrial. conditions about which SO
many complaints are made would I'M
dergo radical improvement.