The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-02-05
- EsTIFY1NG before the federal

commission on industrial re-
lations, sitting in New York
city, Henry Ford, the automo-
bile manufacturer, was asked the ques-
ton What reasons did the Ford COM
pany have for assuming so large a
measure of responsibility not only for
the labor conditions in their plants,
but also for the social and moral sur
roundings of their employees?" His
answer was:
'SThe knowledge that market rates of
wages were not sufficient for men to
properly care for themselves and their
dependents and that the environment
in which it's employees We're thus made
to live gave rise to mental anxiety and
q physical condition that made it ut
terly impossible for the human agency
to deliver all of the effort that it was
capable of in fulfilling the best and
larger functions for which it was de-
signed, at work, at home and in the
community.
'"The company also had the coura ge
to seize an opportunity for breaking
away from old time habits and GUS
toms that were possibly applicable to
other periods. The institution of a
new order, treating men like men in
man fashion, has brought out much of
human salvage and proved that bar
riers between employers and employees
thought to exist and that often do ex-
list can be largely removed.
"a large proportion of our employ
ess were foreign born, many of them
recent arrivals not used to American
habits and surroundings. Very few, if
any, resented our guiding them into
better conditions, into habits of thrift,
saving, sobriety and improved moral
and social conditions. No coercion is
laid upon any employee, but if he is
not living sober life or is neglecting
his duties as a father or husband, and
he persists in such course, he cannot
be an associate in our business.
mo man can bring up a family and
hope to own home on the ordinary
rates of wages.
II do not think that any man can do
good work mentally and physically for
more than eight hours per day."
Another question: rs it desirable
for corporation to assume so large
measure of control of employees as
the Ford company has done?" Mr..
Ford answered as follows:
''We do not undertake to say what
corporations should do in general, but
If employers of labor-we mean the
men themselves at the head of these
enterprises-have genuine. sincere
and active interest in the improvement
OF the conditions of labor, and heart
felt personal interest in the welfare of
their employees, no conditions that are
irksome or distasteful viii be laid upon
the men.
Theoretically, some persons may ar
que, we have no right to inquire how
man lives at home so long as he does
his work at the factory, but we are
talking of conditions, not of theories.
Our experience leads us to conclude,
beyond doubt. that the interest taken
in employees as to their individual
welfare is most desirable from every
standpoint, not only that Of the en-
ployee and his family, but of the busi-
ness itself
1.-The ever increasing interest de-
veloped in our plan by other employ
ers of labor and the Individual express
sions of the men themselves, which
we have taken great pains to learn
from disinterested sources, further
prove the correctness of our views"