New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-23

/ do not believe in overwhelming
business, but I must add the state
ment Of my disagreement with Mr.
Ferguson when he makes this asser-
ton: The government
has the sound public purpose, but is
short of knowledge and experience;
the business system, on the other
hand, has the science, but is con-
fessedly weak on the side of social
devotion"
| Social Consciousness In
. The Industrial Field
I do not, of course, know what com
| fessions of industrial weakness on
the side of social devotion Mr.. Fer
guson had before him in writing that
statement, but l do believe and even
know that American business, as a
whole, is strong rather than weak on
the side of social devotion, as has
been proved by many instances OF
employees welfare work, profit shar
ing and general activities for in
creasing the public service Of busi'
ness enterprise. know of no char
acteristic of American business to-
day so outstanding as the expression
of this rapidly growing social con-
seriousness in the industrial field.
Let me say here, in explanation
of any difference in viewpoint be-
tween myself and Mr.. Ferguson IA
difference which | express with
marked hesitancy), that this in
cisive Investigator and writer and |
have beliefs, sympathies and funda-
mental theories regarding labor and
industry which | am inclined to con-
slider are very much in common; but
we have arrived at our conclusions
in different ways; our channels Of
approach have been different. Mr..
Ferguson, scholar Of distinction,
possessing an analytical insight and
a power of expression of high or
der, has studied and analysed the
ways and means, the causes and re-
suits of conditions in the industrial
world; he views industrial develop
ments as a Judge in a dispassionate
and friendly manner. | have gone
right into the heart Of the manufact-
lring and working world, sympa
hectic Investigator and reporter, bent
OH seeking out the human characters
tics of business; | have searched for
those human processes which have
worked so remarkable change in
our entire industrial system. But
that Mr.. Ferguson also feels the
great spiritual force of business was
indicated in an address he made not
long since, before the Stevens Insti-
/ tute of Technology, wherein, as | re-
call it, he referred to the present day
system of business as one Of the
greatest developments in the history
of civilization.
During the last seven years / have
devoted a considerable portion of my
time to going through factories, OBJ.
serving labor and manufacturing
conditions, interviewing industrial
and financial executives, and study.
ing the conditions of labor, finance
and industry, particularly as they
apply to the social welfare. / en-.
tered the field temporarily, not feel.
ing that it held anything that would
appeal to my interest or imagination
or to my desire to do work of some
public value. But | was amazed 10
! find in the business world social
forces at work that | saw were hav-
| ing a real spiritualizing effect on
society at large. ! have continued
as an industrial investigator and re-
porter because / have found much
inspiration in this field, and in en-
phasizing the relationship between
business and the general social order
l see a very important function.
/ Doino Ripht In End