The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1919-01-29

arican business for at least year to come. 9th
ers took the opposite side-and painted picture
Just as black, and just as gloomy.
The truth of the matter was that all of Us were
"resuningD Just as hard and fast as we knew how
while we were still talking about it in our spare
moments. The only spare moments an Amer
lean business man has, by the way, are during
the lunch hour and the talk he INDUCES in at that
time about crises and calamites is often JUS his
way of enjoying himself.
Seriously. isn't it fact that most OF our ma
tional problems are solved before the editors Oh
the monthly magazines ever get chance TO talk
about them? It's all right to discuss the con-
ditions of today-they should be discussed But
have learned. as a manufactures, tina. it pays
also to try to dig little deeper. 1t find myseh
inclined to be Hurried by something somebody did
Yesterday or threatens to do tomorrow, try
to take long, deep breath, count ten, and repeat
to myself 'Never sell short on the United
States
How are fundamental conditions in America!
Are they wholesome and sound and do they look
as though they furnished solid foundation Tor
the future? That's the main questlon-ln TACT
the only one. For instance, seem to discern
Just now. certain fear of too much radical
thought in America. Now, I've got stubborn
idea that as a matter of fact we are one OF the
most progressively conservative peoples on the
face of the earth today. 1t wouldn't surprise me
il we were actually more conservative in the long
run than our good friends in Great Britain. When
say that, am thinking of the rule, and not
the exceptions I am thinking of the homes,
and of the bulk of the people, and not the groups.
am thinking also of useful instrument known
as the Constitution.
But am thinking above all, that, taking by
and-large we are a well-intentioned people, and
good natured people. We don't always do the
right thing by each other, but we've got the
disposition to do it-and that's long step to-
ward the solution Over in Europe, some classes
of people wan. peasants. Over here, nobody
wants them.
Tt seems to me, too, that the American business
mantle manufacturer-has come out OF The
war with broader conception of his response
bilities don't think he has the slightest dis
position to shirk these responsibilities 1t seems
to me- that he has awakened to the discovery that
in the operation of his business, there are two
groups of people besides himself, that must be
given full consideration.
believe, further, that the more he has thought
and will continue to think of this double respons-
ibility. the more clearly it will dawn on Inn chat
it is good for him, and good for his business.
In one of these two groups is the man who
buys his product-his motor car, as it happens to
be in our case In the other, is the man who helps
him build that motor car. The manufacturer
stands in the middle, owing responsibility TO
each of the others. The truth of the matter is
that he is a sort of trustee, bound in his own
interest to protect the interests of both. Ii he
90 hn will he
ing his own If he tries to shirk on either side
or play off one against the other, trouble is wait
ing for him just around the corner
The man who is overcoming his competition by
prices made a. the expense OF labor, or the ex-
pense of the product ITSELF is not building either
a sound or healthy business. Sooner or later
he will have his day of reckoning-and 1t doesn't
make much difference whether he is punished
from the one side or the other. 1t sounds almost
like platitude to say it, but it is fact neVertne
less. that The manufacturer who is fair with his
customer, and fair with his simply can't have
serious trouble on either side.
If he is building and pricing his product with
the duty he owes the buyer clearly in mind, and
keeping in mind at the same time, the rights of
those who help him to build it, how can he go
astray?
Each and every one of us is looking for dol
lars worth of value for every dollar. 1t is when
we try to pinch away part of that dollars worth
of value from one of the three parties to the trans
action, that trouble begins
Give the consumer of the product of the pro-
duct his full dollars worth of value and he
should be satisfied. See to it tina. in that pro-
cess the worker gets his full dollars worth of
value, and he should be satisfied. Be satisfied
yourself with fair measure of profit, and the
circle of satisfaction is complete.
Business troubles and labor troubles we will
doubtless always have. But decent regard for
the rights of those concerned in your business
will go long way toward obviating most of
them. Personally, want to say that not only
expect, but hops for maintenance of fair and
liberal prices, both for labor and for products.
AS long as we manufacturers can fulfill the two
great duties I have spoken of-our duty to the