The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-10-25
PRIDE ROBS
SKILLED OF
GOOD JOBS
Many Regard Work In
Textile Mills Social
Discredit
ZONE WORKERS
EARN S32 WEEKLY

mill on Ier as the Amrlslu a--.
wife has had 10 contend UlIl dlrn-
the later generations u Is the r-.l.
that attaches 10 O. given line d. rm
ployment Men ana women HH
would make ideal operatives 'n ras
terrific plant 81 the -u4n-l5 laa.
bear having The name iHiti aaad go
piled 20 them ana prefer 20 foo.
the army OF unskilcd who ,a-u a
living IN positions that pas cheap.
wages bu; seem ~ CARR . -rsa ar
social prestige
This peculiar trait came ~ Eala
n textile man was discussing ,-.
wonderful success achieved tt Hru
~ Ford The point which bel -l.a
&c develop was iha. While t1e .4.ia
ing OF such o highly lfc.snt organ
ration was possible In The 4utou1-
bile world the same methods applied
10 the textile industry might not
Yield similar results And all DO.
cause. according 90 this mill wan q
foolish idea exists among the wora
Ing people that The social caste gIy.
en- by one means OF max ng a living
f. not equal 20 that given ~ auorh.
Or.
In the town where our mill Is sit-
sated." he said. lit seems o be O q
persons discredit 10 work IN our es.
tsbiishmont although the wages
paid there are the best and cannot
be nearly eQualed by other means OF
employment available Despite this
fact, however. there are a big num-
Der OF men and women who are con.
tent 10 enter other lines where they
have TO work longer hours and for
smaller wages in order that they
may hold a higher position in the
fictitious social scale. Women are
content TO make S. a week as teach
ers, stenographers. shop saleswo-
man. and what not, so long as they
do not have TO run the chance OF De
ing called mill hands. The skill re
quired In the making Of textiles Is
OF a much higher standard and our
employees deserve TO be called
brainy and efficient set OF people, but
that doesn't seem TO count
81 have only TO 60 10 my home for
an example that well illustrates the
situation that confronts the mill OWL
er. We have a maid who receives
Sfi a week. Placing the cost OF her
meals al 30 cents a day and her
lodging az s. a week, her wage
amounts 10 over $40 week How
many shop girls earn so much, Yet
they consider themselves far supe-
rior in every way 10 the mere house
servant. The same idea works out
In the mill town.
"A skilled weaver viii earn as
much as $50 a week, and yet We dud
II impossible. even With an iLcress-
ed wage inducement. TO ada much 20
our production. We run an eight
hour day and get i12 picks a min
ute. With the hour schedule set. the
only improvement We can make IN
the amount Of production is IA add
ing 10 the speed OF the machines.
This II seems impossible 20 do be
cause we haven't got the CO-Opera-
ton OF the operatives There is no
mill owner In the business who
would not be willing 10 pay mis- men
as much and more than Henry Ford
II be could get the increased produc.
ton to pay for the greater expcndi-
tuTe OF wages
at is this spirit Of the mill hand
that We have 20 contend with on
every side They are iu Tho 1usl.
mess and seem 10 De scrry for Dr.
With such a feeling among mill
operative generally there VS. not
much chance az there being as high
ly efficient Organization IN this
branch OF industry as n others. the
automobile line for instance. once
we can remove the foolish prejudice
Of social standing. We can hope fo
make much better proEr, ss
The remarks which the mill ovn
or had TO make on tho subject Of
positions and social standing Rere
echoed by tho executive FOR cHe OF
the largest clothing concerns in the
country lie was looking Cor "a
credit clerk. he said, and was hav.
ing a dfiicult time In rcUine The
calibre OF man he required for tho
position.
Il would like 20 Get college
man." he said. because The position
offers the best oppor'uniues for ad
yancement We don't want GO pick
mediocre fellow who Is handicap
ped by a lack " broad knoViedge
Such an empioye might lulGll the
mechanical end OF the job TO our
satisfaction Sooner or later. how.
ever. be would recognize the fact
that for Advancement something
more was required than mere abil
fly 90 add and subtract. multiply and
divide. THIS understanding would
dishearten him. and his work would
chow the effect
The clothing business Is one that
does not seem TO attract the college
man lie feels. suppose that "
he cannot say 20 his friends after
receiving his diploma that ho IL IN
Law once. studying medicine. or
-. n.