New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-01
NE; A TEST OF AMERICAN EFFICIENCY

men resent anything Of that nature. You
can't compel a man TO study and If he
thinks you are trying you'll get trouble.
You can encourage them by advice, bat
you have to be pretty careful about even
that Besides, the iliterate school idea is
not fair. They wind up by having the COM
pany pay man for eight hours when he
works only seven and goes to school one
hour. Then the company has to furnish
the equipment, too
But interposed, "some employers say
il actually pays them in dollars and cents
to pay their men to learn English"
A Job for Politicians
Perhaps; at any rate, it's not fair" ne
replied. One other constructive idea he
advanced: Those fellows ought to be
taught to respect the laws in America and
American customs. They don't do it now,
but that's a job the politicians ought to
take up at once. By all means we must get
'em to respect the laws"
Mr.. Hennessy was good enough TO show
me around the big plant. Between whites
the work of the still cleaners came up.
told him of my establishment at being un-
able to find an instance of where one these
workers had got pneumonia.
ut is remarkable" he conceded. "They
work in the stills under temperatures from
$50 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit and come
right out into the cold air and shed lot Of
their clothing, but have never known OF
even a bad cold as result"
What About the Next Generation?
What about the effect on the next gen.
eration?" | asked, for remembered what
the Polish physician had told me.
81 have never paid any attention TO
that" replied Mr.. Hennessy
"Have you any plans along any Of the
lines we've touched on?" asked in leaving.
"Oh, we're taking up any idea that
might help things
ANY in particular"
NO"
81 want to be sure about that school for
illiterates," / said. LAS / understand it,
your attitude is that the plan is not fair
to the company and that while you may
adopt it, you are not likely to do So"
That's right" said Mr.. Hennessy.
That is Bayonno. 1t is part Of New
York-as much part as are the East
Side and Williamsburg. Not so bad as
these in some respects, much worse in
others; but in every respect Offering
greater opportunities for improvement
because control is far more concentrated
and responsibility less diffused.
Corporation heads to-day are contin-
ually talking of the vital Importance Of
cooperation between the government and
industry. They plead for "fairer and
more LIBERAL attitude On the part Of leg
islatures, for less restraint on corporate
activity. PROFESSIONALLY, their pleas are
not in vain; industrial captains have more
freedom Of action. But there is a coroi-
larry; industry on its part must lessen
The strain on the forces Of government,
must do more to anticipate and thus to
prevent friction with the wage Garner.
There is talk, too, of vast expansion Of
our foreign trade; and TO this, likewise,
there is a corollary: improvement at
rome. To cooperation between the gov
ernmcnt AID corporations must he added
cooperation between organizations and
their employees. And in tnis AFTER acid
.here is no greater opportunity than lies
II hand in Bayonne. 1t is limited only by
the ambitions of those in control.