The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-07-06
THE FINER EQUITY IN BUSINESS.
CIV Noble Foster Hoggson, Presi-

dent, t1OSSSOn bIOllelS, b14loeio 81
There is a, growing finer equity IN
modern business Capital is aWaA-
ening to a bigger, broader, clearer
vision OF human justice rather than
of petty policy. 1t realizes that the
industrial evils Of today can never ne
fully prevented nor adequately rene
died by human law, because laws are
imperfect. inadequate. and can De
fought by technicalities or eVaded py
cleverness. Not what capital can be
compelled to do, but what it does, on
its own initiative, through 4 deepen
ed sense of Justice, along higher NOR
al and ethical lines, is to smooth OUT
some of the unjust inequalities in life,
to give a fairer chance to all for bet
ter living and for freer individual de-
opment. That is no mere theory
G. what might be; it is the quiet gen
tie spirit of the finer equity, as a DOM
mating force. in thousands OF the
bic industrial organizat.oE OF the
country today. Competition between
Captial and Labor, where each fears
the other, is slowly giving way TO
confidence, conference and coopera-
ton.
The low rumblings of the protesting
discomfort of Labor against what
it deems injustice, and the loud boom
ing of later actual rebellion and con-
fiict manifest as strike, may seem
to US unjustly typical of general con-
ditions. and We may shut our ears to
the less obtrusive hum Of concentrat-
ed forces working in royal coopera-
ton for industrial peace and harmony.
War is always advertised, while the
big aggressive constructive work Tor
peace has not it's forces always mar
shalled on parade.
The good, systematic, constant ef-
fort on the part of many of the great
corporations of the country to help
men 20 help themselves, has not the
widespread publicity that it should
have Employees are encouraged for
one thing, to thriftiness, by the pr7Vl-
lege accorded to them to buy certain
limited number of shares of stock Oh
the campany. at price less than the
market quotations The payments
carried along in installments over a
number of years means no real finan-
cial strain to the buyer. As ownership
begins with the first payment, accu-
mulating dividends help. in paying
for the stock, and this habit OF saw
ing has strong influence in. finer char
acter-building.
There is an increasing realization
that employees cannot do their oest'
nor be their best, unless they can live
comfortably in proper environment
and be free from worry of money
pressure.
Man cannot give his maximum OF
service for mere fixed wages. he
must have the incentive, the stimulus
the inspiration of something more
that speaks to him of progress
growth. development. He works for
what he receives-plus hope. Capl+
tai todav meeting this essential need
Of human nature by making that nope
reality-not a mere dream. Ihls
is done by piece-work, with its posi-
bilities of individual progress, but
giving at the same time the guaran-
tee of a real living wage, by prem
iums, by bonuses, by proft-sharlns
and other methods.
Welfare work means no mere
erudging obedience to narrow legai
requirements, backed by authority.
No legislature would dare to put on
the statute book law, making COM
pulsory a 1.-THE of what many hundreds
corporations are doing voluntarily
Factory buildings are no longer grlm'
dingy. gloomy structures, but comfor-
table, clean, airy, sun-Eghted ana
breeze-swept; in many instances tney
are set with broad lawns that give
rest to the eye when the worker
raises her glance for moment from
her task. There are lunch rooms
where good meals are served at cost'
rest rooms. wash rooms worthy ora So
cial club; intermission for a bries
time at stated intervals during the
day, lectures, ana evening entertain
ments that transform the factory into
social center; libraries. Schools
,:.o1 o++on6ance vacations With