The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-11

The address follows:
In my address on profit sharing,
| am not going to appoach it from the
usual standpoint of merely distributing
share of the profits, as this met nod is
simple and does not require much of an
explanation. In addition, | do not con-
slider the retailers profits sufficient to
carry out such plan, until We have
secured a greater earning power from
our employees.
81 am going TO deal with it from the
view point of profit sharing for the en-
floye and also the employer. Theorists
are apt to lose sight of the letter, as if
aIBl THAT capital has to do is to dis
tribute golden eggs from an mex
haustible basket
''YOur chairman, in the course of his
remarks one year ago, urged tae de-
sirability, if not the necessity, of volun-
tarily giving, before sentiment or law
compels, the minimum wage. Public
sentiment appears to favor such a meas
ure, and our business is primarily one
which calls for an intelligent anticipa-
tion of the public S requirements.
''The retail business brings us in
closer contact with the public than any
other industry in the country and as
our permanent success depends largely
upon the extent to which the good will
our self interests Compel US to pay more
heed to their desires.
"'In my opinion, the introduction of
a minimum wage will not in itself be of
assistance, or increase the selling power
of our employees, but will, instead, tend
to add to the already over-burdened ex-
pense of conducting business.
How can we saddle ourselves with
this expense with the continual in
creasing cost of doing business, and the
reduced ratio of profits which have
been going on these past yearse
Need to Know Employees
During the course of my experience
with stores in various parts of the
country, l was particularly impressed
with the Inability of executives to
properly recognize the efficiency Of em-
ployes. Personal likes and dis.ikes en-
tered into the matter all to frequent
ly. Some stores lacked the knowledge
in actual figures as to what their EN-
ployes cost them. Others possessed the
tion. Is it any surprise then that
wages are not paid equitably, and that
the productive employe is just as like
ly to go and the drones remain?
''The loss sustained annually through
intelligent and energetic employees un-
necessarily leaving their employment is
too costly in actual money as well as in
lost opportunities for to ignore.
ga good organization is the key note
of success to your business, and with
such, these losses can be reduced to a
minimum.
''It seems to me that we are not in
clined to practice what we preach, HUI
man nature in employer and employe
alike is much the same. Both are sell
fish, in that the first expects a proper
return for the capital invested, and the
other for the ability and energy dis
played.
Profit Expected on Goods
"No merchant puts in a line of
goods without trying TO assure himself
of profit ON them. No spirit of graft
tude towards the salesman animates his
being. Why then expect your employees
TO work and stay with you out of graft
tudea Why deny to them, as their
right, the wage that they are entitled
tot
"Are you always willing to properly
recompense such of your help as prove
themselves efficientf Perhaps you dis
courage their request for increased
wages, on the general principal that it
adds to expenses. Perhaps your help
have to fortify their position with
facts and figures, instead of your pro-
viding the information and voluntarily
giving the remuneration which they
haye justly earned.
It has been said that the efficiency
in department stores is from 10 to 20