New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-23
Ford Tells How Labor Plan
Helped Earn $25,OOO,OOO Year
Vntinued from page J

are paid every two weeks.
The mer eligible 90 share IN the prof
its are divided into three classes. The
first is composed OF married men living
with and taking good care OF their fam
lilies; the second, single men more than
twenty-five years old who are Of proved
thrifty habits. and the third. young
men under twenty-five and women. the
sole support OF some next Of kin. To
be eligible one must be IN the Ford
employ for six months. Investigation
is made to learn II the person VIII
spend the money wisely.
Corps OF Advisers.
The COMPANY" The statement CON
tlnues, maintains CORPS OF forty
men. good Judges Of human nature,
who explain opportunity, teach Ameri-
can ways and customs. the Eng ish Ian
guage and duties Of citizenship. coun-
SCI and help the unsophisticstcd en-
ployeS TO obtain and maintain com
Portable, congenial and sanitary living
conditions, and also exercise the neccs-
sary vigilance to prevent. as far as
possible, human frailty from falling
into habits or practices detrimental 70
substantial progress In life. The whole
effort of this corps rs 20 point men 20
a mere living Mr.. Ford said;
You ask our purpose in establishing
this plan. Our first purpose was sub
stantial justice 60 our co-workcrs,
without whom We could have accom-
plished nothing. VIC had had great sue
cess, and in fact We desired no greater
success from mere financial point OF
view. We do not regard il as in any
sense n gift or a charity. but only due
reward for service"
The answer proceeds 20 point out
that before the plan was started the
company was satisfied with the output
and efficiency Of the men; that no pub
licity or other gain 70 the company
was sought; that financial and mora
uplift Of the men was wanted. and that
no employe who did not want TO change
his habits IN order 20 qualify had TO
do so.
Whereas, At the start. 60 per cent Of
the men we're receiving share Of the
profits" the answer continues, six
months later - per cent we're enrolled
as partici pants. and at the end Of the
first year. S7ie per cent Of the entire
force was participating. representing
practically all of the men more than
twenty-five years old.
"The increased efficiency of the men
under the plan has been from - to ~
per cent with reference TO work pro
duced, which is further emphasized
when YOU consider that the improve
ment was made in an eight-hour day.
versus the comparison in nine-hour
day.
How Men Are Handled.
"The number Of men leaving the en-
81.
sharing plan was started IN comparl-
SON with the year previous. is: Dis
charged March. 1913. 1876; March,
1914, 1876. Quitting March, 1913, $40;
March. 1914. 115. Five-day men. who
leave without explanation or notice
March, 1913. 5.156; March. 1914, l66.
"No man is discharged from the ser
vice OF the company until he has been
proved utterly unfit from every stand
point. II he fails to make good in one
department the foreman Of that depart
nent sends him TO the clearing house
and he is given repeated trials, II nee
essary, until he makes good or - ~
proved he docs not want TO succeed.
recent ruling Of the company requires
the approval Of one Of four men be
fore the man can finally be dismissed
OF the four. two are. respectively, the
president and tho vice pres dent OF the
company.
Bank accounts show an increase
during the first six months OF 1870 per
cent: life insurance carried, 80 per
cent; value of homes owned outright,
81 DER cent: value Of lots owned out
right. So per cent. These are OF en-
ploves on the profit sharing basis.
II is declared that the health OF the
men has improved, that 200 men were
Influenced 10 become citizens, that
5000 families moved into better quar-
tors and that few Of the men are ar
rested, whereas the number formerly
was large. A letter from Polish par
ish priest records that the Ford work
ers Of that nationality have become so
Der men. The school in one OF the COM
pany buildings, where the instructors
are volunteers from the shops, mas
been "A great success in teaching the
English language. In the hrst three
months the attendance grew from -oO
to LOO scholars. 49,
companv assumed so great response
biIitv. not only for labor conditions IN
the plants, but also for the social and
moral surroundings Of the employees.
Mr.. Ford answered that the market rate
Of wages did not bring out the best IN
men. that men should be treated IN
imam fashion: that barriers between
.mploye and employer could be re-
moved. and that few Of the workers re-
scnted the efforts to elevate them, NOR
ally and financially.
Wages and Homes.
in answer 10 the third question this
reply was given 81,
''\o man can bring up a family and
hone 10 own u home on the ordinary
rate of wages. ! do not think that any
man can do good work, mentally and
physically, for more than eight hours
a day. In nv judgment, the other fac
tors are not so very important.
The fourth question asked whether
il was desirable for corporation 10
assume so large measure OF control
of employees as the Ford company mas;
The answer was that Mr.. Ford ala
not undertake to instruct other en-
ployers, but that employers slncerel!
interested in their workers ought 10
see that no distasteful or irksome con
Gitions confronted the employees; that
his experience has shown the WISDOM
Of inquiring into workers NE OUT
side the plant, and that the Ford plan
has interested other employers.
Replying TO the fifth question, MI
Ford said the employees did not want
TO be burdened with taking part IN
the determination Of the company's
policies: that free speech and sugges-
TONS are encouraged; that the wishes
OF the workers should be consulted on
the question Of their personal, physi-
cal surroundings, and that he had re-
ceived no complaints on this head,
ANY manufacturing institution that
- successful in making single prod