The broad ax., 1917-01-27
OUR BUSINESS MEN
ASK FOR PUBLIC
COOPERATION
Leaders Point Out Partnership
Between Capital and Labor.
SAY INTERESTS ARE MUTUAL

Our Future Prosperity Depends on a
Better Understanding and More Prac-
tieal Application of Get-Tosethsr
Spirit In Industry-Must Eliminate
Trouble Breeders and Asitators.
A better public understanding and
appreciation OF the needs and problems
of our American industries Is conceded
on every side to be ono Of the impor-
tant national requirements for the de-
velopment of our future industrial
prosperity. Few people seem to IN
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 all branches of indus
try, which are often inimical to the
best interests Of their own community.
To cure this lamentable condition 1t Is
first 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 a
general get together spirit among en-
ployers and workers.
The 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 sc. 900, ,OO0men at wOrk:if they
work ten hours day that Is 100000
600 hours O day or $4,000, 100000 hours
a year. If they work eight hours it is
74,SSO,OOOOOO, or a difference Of 49,
720.OOO,OOO hours a year. At eight
hours a day this means that about
7,4oO. 900 more men must be employed
to do the work that could be done by
the 3O.OOOOOO. 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 662OOO stockholders of
railroads in the United States. \ large
proportion of them depend on the earn
ings of the carriers for a meagcr in
/ come. Many OF these stockholders
have less than $1,000 a year income.
and they are unable to earn more. be-
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 $2SOOOOVV.-
600 In value per annum. This is three
times the amount of the yearly output
of the ranches, farms, orchards and
gardens; it is dozen times the output
Of the mines: Il is larger than the com
bined manufactures of any two Tor
eign nations. Labor received. as IT'S
share of the fruits of industry, wages
amounting almost to seven billion dol
lars in the single year Of 1911. Docs
not this prove that the interests 'I
employees are joint with those who
| hnf ri
ship exists?
Today there are over 100O0OW0 peo-
pie in the land who must be ted,
clothed, sheltered, kept warm anu
many of whom travel for health. pleas
ure and business. The railway systems
are I'm many places overtaxed in doing
this work.
What will be the conditions when
there are 15O.OOOOOO people to pe
served?
This means an addition OF at least ~
per cent to the number Of tons o'
freight moved one mile and the num-
ber of passengers moved one mile
There was a total mileage of ll'>'
In the hands Of receivers in l9i'. the
total capitalization Of which was g.,
264. 100000. In that year alone 2o.l4"
miles of road went into the hands oi re
ceivers, and these roads had a total cap
italization of .O7O.S0S,6 ,62S. This com
pares with 1922 miles in 1914 win u
total capitalization Of S199.5Il,4o, ~
receivers hands. This Is not heal'u!
condition: 1t is a malady that aueI'S
directly and indirectly every one Id 'H'
country. s
Railways do not belong to re" IN.
men or bankers. There are at lea',
100000 owners Of the securities q
American railways. There are i'oOV a.
600 men approximately employed -
the railway service. The insurant t
companies have $1.5OOOO0O 600 inVesooN oo
In railway securities representing 'S
100000 policy holders; savings OsI n,.n
have $500. 100000 invested In "u
: banks there are 100000 dep"sitorS,
From 1909 to 1918 the States enIrs nn,S