The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1917-02-10
OUR BUSINESS MEN
ASK FOR PUBLIC
COOPERATION
Leaders Point Out Partnership
Between Capital and Labor.
SAY INTERESTS ARE MUTUAL

Our Future Prosperity Depends on .
Better Understanding and More Prse-
tieai Application Of Get Together
Spirit In Industry-Must Eliminate
Trouble Breeders and Agitators.
A. better public understanding and
appreciation Of the needs and problems
of our American industries is conceded
on every side to be one of the impor-
liant national requirements for the de-
yelopment of our future Industrial
prosperity. Few people seem to I'M
derstand that the majority Of our busi-
ness men are fair minded. reasonable
beings, legitimately engaged in the de-
velopment Of our economic resources.
In the opinion Of our business lead
ers this misunderstanding leads the
public, through the legislators, into
thoughtless and unnecessary acts Of
reprisal against oil branches of indus
try, which are often inimical to the
best interests of their own community.
To cure this lamentable condition 1t Is
tlrst essential that a closer degree Of
cooperative action for the common
good be established between en-
ployees and employers. The first step
In this direction is to eliminate the
selfish, destructive agitator. This hap
py event would greatly facilitate n
general get together spirit among en-
ploycrs and workers.
Tho Work That Men Do.
The nation is confronted with more
work than ever before-ships to build,
factories to enlarge, railways to COM
plete, new foreign business to be at.
tracted and help to be extended to the
unfortunates on the other side. There
are about 30, O00, 900 men at work; IL they
work ten hours a day that is 0,000,-
600 hours q day or 90, COO, 5000 hours
year. If they work eight hours 1t Is
74,SS0,000,000. or a difference Of 49,.
720.0O0,000 hours a year. At eight
hours a day this means that about
7,400.O more men must be employed
to do the work that could he done by
the 3OO0O,O00, and where are they to
come from?
During the past year there has been
a unified and standardized banking cur
rency system tried and not found
wanting. But there are yet other steps
to be taken before the ideal OF eco
nomic unit is worked out.
There are C62,00O stockholders Of
railroads in the United States. A large
proportion Of them depend on-the earn.
ings OF the carriers for meager In
come. Many of these stockholders
have less than $1,000 year income,
and they are unable to earn more, bc-
ing elderly persons or women. Thou
sands Of them are former employees Of
the railroads who depend upon their
stock dividends to pay their rent and
their grocery bills.
Labor and Capital Are Partners.
The manufactured output Of the
United States amounts to $4,000, OO0,-
600 In value per annum. This is three
times the amount Of the yearly output
Of the ranches, farms, orchards and
gardens; 1t Is dozen times the output
Of the mines; It is larger. than the CON-
bined manufactures Of any two for
elgn nations. Labor received, as Its
share of the fruits Of industry. wages
amounting almost to seven billion dol
lars in the single year OF 1914. Does
not this prove that the interests Of
employees are joint with those who
employ them and that real partner
ship exists?
Today there are over 100000, 900 peo-
pie in the land who must be fed,
clothed. sheltered, kept warm and
many of whom travel for health. pleas
ure and business. The railway systems
arc In many places overtaxed In doing
this work.
What will be the conditions when
there are 15O.O00,000 people to be
served?
This means IN addition Of at least 80
per cent to the number of tons Of
freight moved ono mile and the num-
Der Of passengers moved one mile. -
There was a total mileage Of 4l,0S8
In the hands Of receivers in 1915. the
total capitalization Of which was ST.
284, 900. In that year alone 90 43
miles Of road went into the hands of re-
ceivers, and these roads had total cap
italization Of 81, 070. s0S. 028. This com.
pares with 1920 miles in 1914 with a
total capitalization Of $190,571, 446, in
receivers hands. This Is not a healthy
condition; It is a malady that affects
directly and indirectly every one in the
country.
Railways do not belong to few rich
men or bankers. There are at least
100000 owners OF the securities Of
American railways. There are 1900.
900 men approximately employed In
the railway service. Tho insurance
companies have 81 500 000, 900 invested
In railway securities representing go.
O0O.o00 policy holders; savings banks
have $500. 100000 invested In which
banks there are 100000 depositors.
From 1900 to 1913 the States enact.
Cd 00,001 and, congress enacted 2,O1a
new laws which involved the consid-
Grafton Of more than one-half million
legislative propositions, or IN annual
production Of over $4,000 new laws
to be assimilated BY the business