The sun., 1916-11-17
STUDY HOW
TO KEEP WORKERS
National Civic Federation Dis
cusscs "BOom Times"
Trouble.
WELFARE METHODS GOOD
One Firm Hired and Fired g.
OBJ Men in Year at q Cost
Of $831,O30.

Men at the head Of a score Of the
greatest Industrial and commercial es-
Establishments In the United States met
yesterday to sec what they could learn
from one another on the subject Of
hiring and firing
Employers. each Of whom directs the
energies Of thousands Of workmen.
agreed that one of the most dificult
tasks facing them to-day is that OF Gre
ating a capable and permanent force of
employees. Munitions factories were
called ono Of the principal factors In
creating a scarcity Of workmen. but
nearly every speaker agreed that the
real solution Is to create a loyalty which
will make employees deaf to the
Establishments OF boom times indus
tries.
The conference was held At the head
quarters OF the National Civic Fedora
tion. under the auspices Of the executive
committee OF the welfare department.
Edwin NJ. Herr. president Of the West
inghouse Electric and Manufacturing
Company. which employs 10000 persons.
said the munition plants are no better on
UnAu any OIneT InuuhtTy. MS
he said. has experienced an acute short
age of labor In its munition plants. where
It IL paying extraordinary wages. as well
as In Its other plants.
Favors studying Each Worker.
Mr.. Herr believed part OF the difficulty
Of keeping workmen car be solved by
, studying each Individual man. not dis
| charging him because he falls In one de-
| partment, but transferring him to an
| other until the work he can do well Is
found for him.
Louis A.. Coolidge OF the United Shoe
Machinery Company. chairman OF the
meeting, told how NJ. W. Alexander or
the General Electric Company had ascer-
tanned that corporation had unneces-
sarily hired. and fired 22.o31 men In q
year at n cost of ss3l.o30. Mr.. Coolidge
approved the plan of the Ford Motor
Company, which James Couzens inaugu-
rated. Under that plan no man could he
discharged without the approval OF the
president or vice president. This made
foremen cautious and led to the transfer
OF employees from departments 10 which
! they were not suited.
Industries with plants In rural manu-
featuring villages would do we'll. he said.
10 take an active interest In developing
recrcational facilities In those small
towns so as to offset the allurements or
city ufe. which cost the villages thou
sands of workinen yearly. He believes
thousands OF men have been enabled by
recent good times to marry. which has
withdrawn a large number OF women
from industry to the home.
Savings Retirement Fund.
Julius. Rosenwa,d, president Of Sears
1 c--n-a Ght~aUn hn0rFihad
his corporations plan Of devoting b per
cent. of its profits each year to the EN-
ployees' aving retirement fund
Richard H.. Weber. president OF the
] /. Hudson Company OF Detroit. said
an investigation by his department store
showed that girls paid $40 a week had a
severe struggle to make both ends meet.
He advised that some plan be worked
out whereby they may be paid better
wages, and also that they be taught how
TO get the most for their money As
an instance. he related that one en-
ployee was spending $40 a month for
rent from a salary Of se2 a week and
did not realise that was why he was
running short.
+. G. Hendreshott OF the New York
Edison Company deplored the fact
that the attention Of employers In the
past has been concentrated on physical
I''lhslibA'lAN NV ''ihi Wv N'FD''" rs
corporations should have a department
OF employees relations. in charge of an
official OF no less Importance h the
FIRST yl:e-prcsident. he said.
"weIfare" As Means Of Peace.
v. Everit Macy said that 40 long as
the thoughts and acts Of employers were
centred on their rights without regard
TO their consequent duties industrial war.
fare would continue.
The welfare point OF view Affords
the only sure foundation for the estab-
nshment not only OF Industrial but also
OF international peace he said.
Others participating in the conference
included:
:. W. c, Fish. General Electric Com.
pany: II. s. Terry. National LamI
Works. Cleveland: W. 8. Field. George
s.. willett Company. Boston: A. J. Por-
|, ter. president Shredded Wheat Company
, Niagara Falls; Leslie Gran. u. Altman
& Co.: II. A. Bullock. Brooklyn Rap't
Transit Company: +. G. Clothier. Curt,
Publishing Company. Philadelphia: J. II
1 Christie. American Express Company
I Charles II. Hulburd. president Elgin Ma
n tipnal Watch COnpany.