Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1917-02-09
OUR BUSINESS MEN
ASK FOR PUBLIC
COOPERATION
Leaders Point Out Partnership
DGIyaen Capital and Labor.
SAY INTERESTS ARE MUTUAL

Our Future Prosperity Depends on .
nst;er Understanding and Moro Prae-
teal Application Of Get Together
Spirit In Neutrality-suspicious. Eliminate
Trouble 1rssdsrs and Aeitators-
A better public understanding and
appreciation OF the needs and problems
Of our American Industries IL conceded
on every side to be ono OF the impor-
tant national requirements for the de-
vslopfnent OF our future Industrial
prosperity Pew people seem TO un-
dersiand that the majority OF our bush
ness rnon are fair minded. reasonable
beings. legitimnteiy engaged IN tho de-
selormeft of our economic resources.
In the opinion OF our business lead
evx this misunderstanding leads the
public. through the Legislators. Into
thonghtiesu and unnecessary acts OF
repr!szi against all braaches OF indus
trJ. wideh are often inimical to tho
tesf interests of their own community.
Tv~ure this lamentable condition II II
frst esssnfiai that closer degree OF
cooperative action for the common
good be established between en-
ployces and employers. The hrst step
In this direction IL TO eliminate tho
selfish. destructive agitafor. This hap
~ event would greatly facilitate
fenerai sct together spirit among TIM
papyers and workers.
TIA werk That Men De-
TIE ration n confronted with more
work than ever before ships 20 build
farforfes 10 enlarge. railways to com
YIicfc. new foreign business 10 he nj.
fraeicd aud help 10 BE- extended TO the
Nnfoftnnsfea or sha ether siIe. There
sreabont 30 600 20 men az woFk IL they
work ten hours day that II 500 0Oo.-
c0o hours n day or ps.cOo.ooo.Ooo hours
ysar. II they work eight hours n II
1850. .Oo.oco. or . difference of 49,
TO oono.ocp ahorrs 4 year. At eight
hours . day this means that about
T.tno0oo mere men must be employed
~ 10 the work that could be done by
the 500ooOoo. ana where nre they 10
come FROM
During the past year there has been
q uniffed and sssnda rdixed banking cur
rency system tried and not found
wanting. But there are yet other steps
20 be taken before the Ideal OF eco
uofnlc unli IL worked out.
There are co. 600 stockholders OF
railroads In the Unifed States. A large
proportion Of them depend on the earn
ings OF the carriers for n meager In
come. Many OF these stockholders
hare less than $1,000 year Income.
and they are unable 10 earn mere. be.
ing elderly persons or women. Thou
sands Of them arc former employees OF
fhe rniinnads who depend upon their
stock dividends to pay their rent aud
their grocery bills
Lsbee and Capital Are Partners-
TIE manufactured output OF the
United States amounts 10 s2s.oO0. .o1O.-
ooo In value PER annum. This n three
times the amount OF tho yearly output
of the ranches.' farms. orchards and
gardens: II IL doren times the outpu.
of tho mines: Il Il larger than the com
bined manufactures OF amy two for
eIen nations Labor received. as It's
share OF the fruits OF industry. wages
amounting almost 20 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 extStsl
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
are In many places overtaxed In doing
this work.
What win be the conditions when
there are 150.0OO.o00 people to be
servedl
This means an addition OF at least 80
per cent TO the number Of tons OF
freight moved one mile and the num-
Der Of passengers moved one mile.
There wns total mileage of 4i.988
In the hands OF receivers In 1915. the
total capitalization Of which was 81
20f 100000. In that year alone 20.l43
miles OF road went into the bands OF re-
seIrcrs, and these roads had total cap
ltalilation of Sf,070. sos, ,C2S. This COM
pares with 4.222 miles In 1914 with n
total capitalization OF s199.57i,4i6. In
receivers hands. This In not a healthy
condition; II is q nalndy that affects
dlrect,. and indirectly every Que In the