New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-23

good. or course. they arc not ade-
quate. But my idea is justice, not
charity. ] have very little use for
charities or philanthropies a. such.
Ny idea is, help men TO help them
selves. Nearly all arc willing 20 work
for adequate reward. We have all
kinds Of cripples I'm our employ and
they are making good. We nave a
great many who have been in prison
and are outcasts from society. Every
one Of them is making n good showing
and is gaining in sclf-rcspcct and
strength of character.
I'VE will guarantee 10 take every
man out of Sing Sing and make man
~ him.
When this was read applause swept
the room. Chairman Walsh checked IT,.
How do you work these men into
YOUR service without embarrassing
them" Mr.. Walsh asked.
I'VE keep from the others the fact
that these men have been in prison,
Mr. Ford replied.
The ninth and tenth questions. which
related to the effect of private phil
anthropic organizations on the persons
benefited and 10 whether tho estab-
lishmcnt Of such funds as the Rookie
I Teller Four dation were in the interest
Of public policy. we're not answered, Mr..
Ford explaining he had not given SUI
fcient consideration to the subjects.
"We're finding out something new
every day; our plan has been only a
year i'm operation" Mr.. Ford said. when
the examination was continued orally.
$50 far as its success IL concerned, we
| like it in our place. In regard 10 our
. sociological work. the figures we have
gathered have been requested from all
| over the world
He was asked II the restoring Of
self-respect TO down-and-o y
wasn't the biggest factor in uplifting
men.
ITS a big factor" he replied. "but
not the biggest. ] think giving man
of that type decent, remunerative en-
ployment is of greater Importance.
Mr.. Ford's Rise.
When Mr.. Ford was asked TO describe
his rise in the world he acted much as
Daniel Guggenheim had acted the day
before when Mr.. Guggenheim was
questioned about his philanthropies.
Mr.. Ford half covered mis- mouth with
the palm Of his right hand. and his
the lower part OF his face.
IL started in Detroit" he began.
THAT Is. lived on a farm near De-
troit until 7 was sixteen or seventeen.
I went to public school, the country
school Then ! went TO Detroit and
became an apprentice in machine
shop. I went TO a business school in
nv snare time. After ! left that ma
chine shop ! went 10 the machine shop
of the Edison Illuminating Company. |
worked up to chief engineer and
changed the hours from twelve a day
to eight without adding man. ! quit
the Edison company In 1898 and went
into the automobile business"
In reply to questions he said there
was only one Ford corporation a
single company. There are only elght
shareholders. The concern has never
borrowed n dollar. There are about
/ forty-five plants and agencies scattered
all over the world. employing from
! 10000 to $4,000 persons.
"Do YOU get the maximum OF EN-
cheney out Of your men now that you
have the profit sharing plan working!
81 answer that by saying We have to
hold the men back =,
"What is your attitude on organized
labor"
~ don't know anything about organ
lied labor. am not against union Ia.
Dor. nor have | ever Disseminated
against organized labor.
, "About 10 per cent Of the women en-
ploves get at least So a day" he said,
answering another question. About
10 per cent Of our employees are under
tventy-two years of age. The ordinary
workers get So q day; foremen and
higher grade men get more, OF course.
Does the amount resulting from IN
creased output and efficiency equal the
amount spent on the profit-shsrlng
PLAN
s25.ooo,OOo Profit in Year.
"Not vet, but Il is gradually working
I'D 20 il. For one thing, we're running
smoother"
what amount of business did you DO
last year. ,.,o. Am +,
what were the profits! -.
81 approximate them at between SZo,-
0o0. 900 and s2s,000.ooO.'
Whereupon everybody but the oros
gssped. .,
would not accomplish the desired pur-
nose without the welfare work
"Yes. they had 20 go hand In hand.
The mere increases would not nave
changed conditions. Il might nave
steered the men the other way.
$40 YOU think an apprentice boy-a
young man--has the same chahce OF
success to-day that he had when you
were a boy.
Yes. and more than that; he has a
better chance.
"po YOU think that incentive en-
courages the labor learner 20 become
ambitious and strive for success
Undoubtedly"
Mr.. Ford was preceded on the stand
BY George W Perkins. whose opening
Re stimony was given on THURSDAY a.
ternool lie read a report, drawn up
c',-. r. 1913. Of certain detalls
81 labor employed by the United States
steel Corporation. :
In that wear the average NUMBER OF
workers was 22S 900. The average
dsilv wage Of employees, exc usive OF
the administrative force and seIllhs
Gents was s2s5. The average wage
az ali employees was s. 90. The total
amount paid in wages IN 1919 Vas
about s267 900 900. Only 22ls per cent
OF the employees not engaged IN rail-
road. steamship and Administrative
work toiled twelve hours day.
There should be a law requiring the
ding % statements showing the con-
ditions Of labor in each industrial
nlsnt." he said later or. inspection
should be made and figures ana re-
marks drawn up for filing. II maehin-
erv is worth inspecting, certainly labor
details are.
Mr.. Perkins, Plan.
Mr.. Perkins discussed further me
.tock selling ayTAn1eme1i s!3 go