The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-16
LABOR UNIONS
: NOT NECESSARY
Armour, Who Pays an Aver
age of $12 Per Week to His
Men, Does Not Like
Organizations.
INTERESTED IN WORKER
Admits He Never Has Visited the
Homes Of Any Employees, and
That Few Come to
His Office.
INTERESTED IN WORKER

limited Press Leased Wire Serv1ce.1
CHICAGO, April 16.-Labor unions.
in the opinion of J. Ogden Armour,
millionaire packer, are not necessary
to aid employees in getting their rights.
because every business man realtzns
that the largest contributing factor to
his success Is his employees. The
opinion was expressed by Armour to-
day before the federal commission on
Industrial relations, sitting at the
Hotel Sherman.
Armour testified that he was di-
rector in Armour and Company Chi
cago, and Northwestern railroad, ILL
nois Central railroad, Continental and
Commercial National bank. National
City bank Of New York, the Kansas
City Railroad and Light Co., and num-
erous other companies.
Armour stated he had no objections
ito certain forms of organizations of
men, but there should be sharp
line drawn between good and bad
unions Experience. he said, was a
lgreat factor in establishing in. his
mind whether q union WIS goodsof
bad. However he considered them
unnecessary to gain for laborers their
rights.
Armour described his packing indus
try as an endless chain, each employe
contributing something in the process
of manufacturing 1t, until at last 1t ia
turned out the finished product. No
links in that chain could be disturb
led, he said, without throwing the
whole machine out of order.
SIS this an industrial chain or an
economical one?" asked Commission.
er Garretson.
ut is primarily an industrial one,
answered Armour. 3
"And the reason you bar the doors
of your plant to union organizers Is
because they would disrupt the tenor
of this industrial chain and not fc:
any economical one?" asked Garret.
son.
"Yes, but wouldn't have them
there anyway he said. "As ] said
before, any business man recognizes
the value Of his employees to himself
and 1t is essential that they be con.
tented and satisfied. No man has the
interests of employees in the Armour
plant any more at heart than have
"Have you ever visited the homes
Of YOUR employees to see how they are
living?'
Personally, no." replied the pack
ing king. o.,
Just what is the machinery fo1
adjusting differences between the men
and the bosses?" was asked.
We'll" said Armour, my door Is
always open to aggrieved employees.
do very many avail themselves OF
the opportunity to see you?" he was
asked.
Comparatively few he replied
amid general snickering from one OF
the largest crowds that has yet at
tended the hearings.
"Do YOU consider $12 a week, which
we believe you say is your company
average, enough for man to rear a
| family on. according to Am mericar
standards of living?" asked Garretson
THAT depends greatly upon the n
dividual, but I can answer 1t best this
way. that there are lot Of them do
| ing it, yes, sir, lots of them"
! "But more have failed trying to dc
IT." persisted Garretson.
ct don't know anything about that,
was the answer.
Only rs per cent of the Armour EN-
Moves in Chicago, of which there are
about 1000. he admitted, were EN-
ployed regularly. The rest were "per
! iodical."
| Armour occupied the stand only 6
short time He evaded many ques
tfons by saying that he didn't have
the information. or that other mem
bers of his industry would be "bettel
able to give 1t than L.
| The Armour company, he said, was
capitalized at s20,0O0,o00 with a sur
Mus of s9O,00O,J0O. Last year, he said
ten per cent dividend was declared
and the books showed a surplus O
$500, 900. The profit last year wa:
about s7.5oO,O00. he said.
| Grain Dealers Convention.
| II1nited Press Leased Wire Service.
| Nah Anri1 1E-The West