The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-02-09
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 Prae-
'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-
tant national requirements for the de-
velopment of our future industrial
prosperity. Few people seem to I'M
derstand that the majority Of our bust
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
I'm this direction Is to eliminate the
selfish, destructive agitator. This hap
py event would greatly facilitate
general get together spirit among en-
ployers 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 80 OO0.0 O0men at work If they
work ten hours day that is 300, 0OO.-
600 hours a day or $4,000 900 hours
a year. If they work eight hours 1t Is
74,SS0, 100000, or a difference Of 49,
720.OO0,O00 hours year. At eight
hours a day this means that about
100000 more men must be employed
to do the work that could be done by
the 30,O00.OO0. 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 662.OOO stockholders of
railroads In the United States. A large
proportion Of them depend on the earn
ings OF the carriers for a meager 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 $2S.OOOOOO,
900 in value per annum. This is three
times the amount of the yearly output
of the ranches, farms, orchards and
gardens; it is a dozen times the output
Of the mines; It is larger than the CON-
bined manufactures of any two for
eign 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 a real partner
ship exists?
Today there are over 100000, 900 PEP
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 will be the conditions when
there are 150.OO00O0 people to be
served?
This means an addition Of at least so
per cent to the number Of tons of
freight moved one mile and the num-
Der of passengers moved one mile.
There was total mileage Of 41.0SS |
in the hands of receivers in 1915. the
totG capitalization of which was ST.
264.O0O,000. In that year alone 20,143 |
miles of road went into the hands Of re- |
ceivers. and these roads had total cap |
italization of $1,O70. S0S,62S. This CON- |
pares with 1920 miles in 1914 with a
total capitalization of $199,571 ,446, In |
receivers hands. This is not a healthy |
condition; 1t 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 1.S0O.-
600 men approximately employed In
the railway service. The insurance
have $1,5O0.O 100000 invested
in railway securities representing 3d.
100000 policy holders: savings banks
ha We sSOO,OOO.OO0 invested In which
banks there are 100000 depositors.
From 1909 to 1913 the States enact
ed CO.OO1 and congress enacted 2,O13
new laws which involved the consid-
Grafton of more than one-half million
legislative propositions. or an annual
production OF over I2.O00 new laws
70 I've assimilated by the business