South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-16
Head of Great Packing Concern
Tells Industrial Commission
Discomfort Among Working
Glasses is Decreasing.
WAVE OF PROSPERITY
IS SOON TO RETURN
Packer Declares Good Times"
Are Ahead to be Shared Alike
by Employers and WOrkmen
Choose Boys Carefully.

CHICAGO. April 16-J. ogden Ar
mour. head Of Armour < Co. packers.
took the stand today at the investiga-
ton into the affairs of the union stock
yards, being conducted by the federal
commission on industrial relations.
John B. Lennon. treasurer of the
American Federation OF Labor, pre-
sided. Chairman Walsh having gone
10 Kansas CITY Mo. To attend the
funeral of Col. William II. Nelson.
Mr. Armour denied that he used
"autocratic rule" i'm the stock yards.
tie said he considered himself rus-
-ee for the welfare of his employees.
tie also stated that ne saw coming a
return of prosperity within the next
year or two.
Il feel sure that prosperity IS COM
ing" he said. 1T viii be a prosperity
that will be shared alike by employers
and employees"
In reply to question from Acting
Chairman Lennon he said:
Il do not find industrial discomfort
increasing. / find II Is on the de-
crease The decrease Will be more
marked with the coming of the pros
perity which all will share
Tells He II Trustee.
Mr. Armour gave list OF the or
ganizations in which he is Interested,
which included Armour & Co, the IL
II
and Commercial National bank Ma
iOnai City bank and the Kansas city
Railway and Light Co.
n devote practically all OF my time
10 our companies" he said.
TO what extent do you feel YOU are
interested i'm your employees he was
asked
4 feel that ] ann trustee for their
welfare" he replied. Il don't believe
any one has their welfare at heart
more than / have. Even the public
cannot be more interested.
What sort Of selection do you make
10 choosing your office goys?' Chair
man Lennon asked.
That is the most particular part OF
our organization, said Mr.. Armour
''As "A rule our office boys later be-
come department heads.
In answer to other questions IN re
gard TO the treatment of his employees
Mr.. Armour said:
The personal equation is highly de
Veloped i'm our company. Ny door Is
always open They can always come
TO me-any of my employees
TT is on the personal equation that
7 place a great deal of faith in the
future success of Armour x CO." ne
went on Mr.. Hearne. our general
superintendent. came tC us for 81.
a day. We take our men from the
ranks. The boys Of today are the
heads Of our affairs tomorrow
Extend Pension System.
What is your treatment of old en-
pIoyes2" we have pension sys-
tem," Mr. Armour replied. we are
steadily extending il. We have found
no pension law that will reach the
periodic worker"
what is your attitude toward
unions?"
There is no objection TO the en-
plovment OF union labor The unions,
however. have not worked well at the
stock wards When they get power
they do not know how 10 use IT."
do YOU object 10 organizers in your
plant during working hours
Decidedly answered the Witness
THAT is no place for them
Isn't that the usual plea, that
unions are intoxicated with power"
asked Commissioner GarretsOn.
Maybe I've known good and bad
unions replied Mr.. Armour Many
unions have managed 20 harmonic
the highest wages with the present
do YOU ever visit the homes Of
vour employees Nr. Armour was
asked.
Personally. no." he replied
"Do YOU believe conditions around
the stock yards allow men and Wom-
en- 60 remain morally secureE
Conditions there are no worse than
in any other big industrial district.
Have Sociological Department.
Have YOU a sociological depart
yes we employ welfare workers.
r,.,, sociological organization pays
,,articular attention 20 female en-
i,Io,es Thev report every case. They
are graduate nurses. They go through
The plants and get 10 know the girls
and the conditions"
What do YOU know. briefly. about
the strike of 1903 and lsO4?
we attempted 10 arbitrate and Of
fered 10 arbirate. but our oHer was
lie went into detail about the strike
and said that an efrort was belns
made now TO have every man In the
Yards work 40 hours week.
air Armour said the capltal or At
mour 4 60. was $50. 100000. lie
stated that last year the company
made S7,5eO. 900.
grated its money, suggested MT
''No Indeed" promptly replied Mr..
Armour
do you keep in close touch with
all details OF your business
That is impossible" answered Mr..
Armour.
Gould any human brain do it?"
Mine can't" said the witness smil-
ing.
Mr. Armour's testimony was con-
-Iuded after ne had been on the wit
ness stand an hour and 10 minutes.