New-York tribune., 1915-01-23
S25.000,000 PROFIT
IN A SINGLE YEAR
Efficiency Increases if Men
Have Share, Industrial
Board Hears.
DEPRESSION TARIFFS
FAULT, SAYS PERKINS
Gompers Resents a Question in
Hearing at City Hall, and
Disturbance Follows.

DlStul UdHSt DllONS.
/ 4 lanky maker Of motor cars. sitting
cross-legged in City Hall yesterday,
made an offhand statement which
startled members Of the federal Com
mission on Industrial Relations.
The witness was Henry Ford, crony
Of Thomas A. Edison, bird lover and
manufacturer Of more automobiles than
any other man in the world This was
what he said
I'VE will guarantee to take every man
out of Sing Sing and make man of
him"
Mr. Ford had prefaced this part OF
his answer to the question of whether
ne thought private philanthropies can
deal adequately or effectively with so
cial conditions by saying:
They may and probably 90 do some
good. OF course, they are not adequate.
But my idea is justice, not charity. l
have very little use for charities or
philanthropies as such. Ny idea is, aid
men TO help themselves. Nearly all are
willing to work for adequate reward.
", have all kinds OF cripples in our
employ, and they are making good. We
have a great many who have been in
prison and who are outcasts from So
ciety. Every one Of them is making
a good showing and is gaining in self
respect end strength NJ character" .-
The statement provoked such an out
burst Of cheering and hsnd-clapping
that Frank p Walsh, chairman OF the
commission, had 70 rap for order.
Crowd Hears Testimony.
The Aldermanic Chamber probably
never has held so great a gathering as
packed itself into the room yesterday.
Men and women OF mixed politics,
mixed social and financial positions,
overrsn the Aoor and gallery. They
slowed themselves into uncomfortably
small spaces and we're as tightly
jammed along the wall as If a cele-
brated murder trial were being held
there. And most OF what Mr.. Ford said
drew their keenest interest.
Though much has been told OF the
Ford profit sharing plan, which most
OF his employees work under. none but
those close to the automobile man knew
how the scheme was working out And,
oddly, it was at the commissions ses-
sion yesterday that the first general
information as to the result Of the first
years experiment was given.
He pronounced 1t success. He gave
detsils-facts and hsures-tc show how
hi. company had benefited financially
and how the employees have, with in
creased finances and enthusiastic CO
operstion IN social welfare work, i'm
proved their habits, their surroundings
and modes Of living
The other witnesses we're George W.
Perkins and Samuel Gompers. Mr.
Perkins said that the profit sharing
plan was the missing link between cap
itsl and labor. He asserted, however,
that one Of the first steps 70 place
business in A position and frame Of
mind 10 treat the question soberly, was
70 get assurance from the government
that its attitude toward business would
be as fair as it is toward organized
labor.
Mr.. Gompers opposed most OF the
IDEAS that capitalist witnesses had Ut
tered at the hearings. Al one point IN
his examination a small riot threatened.
Walter Drew, Of the Employers As'o-
citation, who was interested IN the pros
scution OF the labor union dynamiters'
sent up a question affecting that sub
iect 70 be asked Of Mr.. Gompers. The
labor leader exploded and ne found
many sympathizers in the audience TO
echo mis- protest that it was an outrage
How the Ford Plan Works.
Mr.. Ford was the principal witness
in the morning. He was accompanied BY
Mrs. Ford, his son, his attorney and
John r. Lee, in charge OF the soeio.og-
zeal bureau established b. Mr.. Ford
when the profit sharing plan was IN
augurated.
The commission mad sent TO Mr. Ford
IN Detroit ten questions. The replies
with the questions. we're brought IN
tvpewritten form 20 the session yester- F
dsy morning. and, while Ar. Ford ss'
in the witness chair. Frank P. WALSH
the chairman, read them Of.
The first question asked a description
Of the profit sharing plan, It's purposes,
lis results on efficiency, the eharaeter
and steadness OF the men and on 'he
community. -.
The prepared answer said thai tne
minimum wage Vss 81 day. AT. roIo
later explained this was the minimum
Tor men more than twenty-five wears
old. save those under that age VINO hsd
10 support others. The profit snarlng
rate is 90 regulated that the lowest
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