Wheeling majority. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1907-192?, 1915-02-25
Ford Plan A Failure
Says. Labor Writer

terial seems to be moved about al
most by magic. Everywhere every
one was working swiftly yet but little
material was to be seen lying around
or in transit, as is the case Ing or
binary machine shops. The secret is
an elaborate system of conyeyors to
take it to and from the various ma
chimes. AS soon as a part goes through
one process it is whisked away TO an
other.
At the famous assembling skids
the autos seemed to grow almost out
of the air. Nowhere was material
to be seen upon the floor. In an
swer to my wondering query, the
guide pointed out the various chutes
whereby I'll the wheels, dashboards,
tanks, ETC., were delivered from the
upper floors to the hands of the as
semblers using them. All the mater
ial SO delivered was rigidly Inspected
and counted, even to the last bolt or
1t. The smallest waste is detected
t once and elaborate explanations
zacted. Small chance indeed for sa-
,otage.
The Proht-Sharins Plan. a.
The profit-sharing plan gives all
married workers (whom Ford's in
vestigators pronounced worthy, ordi-
narily rated at 38 cents per hour, or
less. flat rate of $500 per day.
Those rated at 38 cents to 4S cents
get $500 per day, etc. The profit
sharing plan makes Ford's workers
double slaves. On, the job it compels
them. to work at a terrific pace. Ac-
eording to Ford's own figures, it took
$50 hours labor to produce an auto
before the profit-sharing plan was in
troduced. Now it takes but 1876 hours
or less than one-half as long. So pro-
ftable is the scheme that seyera
other Detroit firms are considering its
installation in their plants. Not ali
workers can stand the pace at Ford's.
There is a constant wedding out pro-
cess. Lately, physical examinations
have been instituted to more quickly
sort out the able-bodied slaves. = " s4
, In their life outside the shop the
Ford workers are likewise enslaved.
There is a whole corps OF investigat-
ors to pry into and take. charge of
their private affairs. They are COM
PEELED to- attend church, deposit
their money at Ford's bank, ETC., as
these spies direct.
:. Naturally, membership in a labor
union is utterly prohibited. @
Ford's attitude towards unionism
is well shown by the fact that his
agents are going among the various
union officials and militants of De-
troit and offering them good jobs if
they will give UP their cards and
quit the unions. Any amount of proof
Of this is to be easily had. Some Of
the weaklings4 have accepted the offer
Ford is supposed to have some hun
dred cards as a result of these tactics
The whole Ford plant, both inside
and out, is a maze Of spies, whose
function is to crush out the last spark
of individuality and revolt ON the part
Of the workers.
The vast majority of Ford's work
ers are foreigners. There are dfty-
two nationalities among them, with
those from Southern Europe predomi-
mating. In spite Of their 'big" wages,
these foreigners wear the same OPP
poverty-stricken air, charac-
teristic Of their kind. With the ex-
ception Of those holding the few skill
"a Jobs. American mechanics show = |
strong tendency to avoid the Ford |
plant. Many quit and accept lower
Hages II other auto plants They /
Won't stand Eord.s eternal driving ana
Ipying and Furnishing.
F6fd dlscipliks may Be- judged nom
hs foIIoWing: me workers. faiIink /
pto aistsyog ~ senteneea 70 sesv, /
b mneA t'rIn e nono floanIooaklo /