Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-26
Mrs. Charles E. Hughes, Jr.. and Char

been increased as much as 33 per
cent. The increased profit to the en-
ployer. therefore, is the difference be
tween 200 per cent and SO per cent, and
even considerably more than this, be
cause where there is an increase in
the output of this proportion there is
a considerable decrease in the over
head charges per unit, and because
not all of the men are fortunate
enough to receive anything like SO per
cent increase.
And this is the milk in the cocoa
nut. 1t reveals the motive behind the
introduction of the Taylor system. Its
sole object and purpose is to induce
the workman to perform more work
for less pay per unit. It's operation in
the end is TO decrease, instead of in
crease wages.
That the system increases divi-
dends for the employer there is no
doubt. In fact, it is a get-rich-quick
/ scheme for the employer who is heart
/ less enough to use it to its final an
alysis, but there are very few en-
/ ployes who will resort to its use as
/ Mr.. Taylor described 1t.
When a Workman Wears Out.
/ Under the Taylor system the man
! is of secondary importance to the ma
chine. Here is the science of it:
( Be careful of the machinery, because
/ if it breaks down or wears out il
costs money to repair or replace it
But if a workman breaks down OF
wears out, it costs the employer moth
1 ing the replace him. There are al
ways fresh men waiting at the door
/ to be employed. So as long as the sup
ply of men holds out, the Taylor syS-
TEN can go on.
But whether Mr. Taylor took il
into consideration or not, it is a fact
that if a workman, because of long
continued overeXertion, is finally
thrown prematurely on the scraI
heap, some one has to stand the loss
even if the employee does not, anC
where the workman is the head of q
family it is the family that must bear
| the burden. One of the principles o.
scientific shop management, il
should be remembered, is that it is NJ
concern to the employer what happens
to the man who can not keep up to the
pace.
MIR. Taylor laid great stress on his
system of scientific persuasion Eigh
bosses assist in the 'persuading Five
of them are directly over the work
man urging him on.
The tasks laid out for the mon are
evidently so severe that at first the
fOremen themselves do not nave The
heart to insist upon the workmer
under them performing the excessive
amount Of work planned for then.
81; Mr.. Taylor fOresaw the possibility
of weak-hearted fOremen, and he ar
RANGED to take care of them He pro
iyideG 'overforemen' | quote from hi!
book Up. 1897, par, 254):
The functions of these overfore
men are tWOfOld; First, that of teach
ing each of the bosses under them tht
exact nature OF his duties, and al star
also of nerVing and braCing them VI
to the point of insisting that the work
men shall carry out the orders exaCtl!
as specified on the instruction cards
1 Mr. Taylor stated foremen make ;
great mistake in frying to persuade
several men at once He indicates The
way to successfully intimidate work
mar is for all the foremen to cen.tl
their persuasion right onto single
man and to keep after him until h
Is persuaded.
No workman, said Mr.. Taylor
can long resist the help and persua
sion of five foremen over him. He vii
either do the work as he is told o.
leave IF. 1479)'"