Evening star., 1919-05-04

trumpets or organized ef
Y J fort to obtain publicity.
| there has been under way In
| this country a movement looking to
| the characterization of industry. 1t
| is not the work of theorists or re-
| formers. but of industry itself-and
| big industry, at that.
A like movement in England has
| progressed to point where indus
| trial leaders and labor leaders agree
! in pronouncing it practicable,
| workable solution of most of the
| problems which arise to cause con-
| dict between employees and employ
ers
| Just what changes will be neces
/ sary in order to democratize industry
| in this country have not been fully
| defined Or generally accepted. 1t is
| reasonable to suppose. however. that
! the final determination of the prob
| lem will involve a successful soiu
! ton OF it's subdivisions, some of
which are now receiving careful con
| sideration. For example. labor turn
over, employe representation in
| mana cement, better aiming, hours
| of labor, wages. stock ownership on
| the part of employees, profit sharing,
| group insurance, thrift activities to
encourage home owning. working
| conditions and similar problems.
Complete Democracy Impractical.
| Democracy is relative term. a
| fully democratized industry would be
in a state of flux as surely as is a
| democratic government; bue mbrac-
| ed in industries and business recon-
! struction are these vital problems
| affecting labor which must be solved
! Several large and representative
! industrial corporations have worked
! out plans. but most of these programs
| have yet to be fully inaugurated or
have been in effect for too brief a
! period to reach any definite conclu-
sion as to their value.
| The Standard OIL Company made eff
| fective its plan known as the stan
dard Oil democracy" a little over a
year ago. At a recent dinner attended
|
| representatives of the employees, a
| statement was given out to the effect
that the plan had proved successful
and satisfactory alike to the stock
! holders, management and the en-
ployes.
| The Western Union Telegraph Com
pany has also instituted a plan which
n
! management. It's plan embraces col
| lective bargaining, but eliminates
,ockouts and strikes and provides that
! in case adjustments cannot be reached
! through conferences on the part OF
| REPRESENTATIVES of the stockholders
and management on the one hand, and
of the employees on the other, such
| disputes shall be submitted to arbi-
tration and provides how this arbitra-
i ton shall be conducted.
Steel Companies in Line.
The Bethlehem Steel Corporation
has inaugurated a plan in the Beth-
Ilehem steel works and several OF its
! subsidiary companies. The MioFaie
Steel and Ordnance Company mas also
inaugurated a similar plan which pro-
vtdes for representation in manage
ment through duly elected delegates
by the employees.
| The Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company recently revised a plan
| which has been effective for some
wears. The revision was made neces-
sary on account of a wage ADJUST
ment conducted by the war LABOR
Board to meet new living conditions
| caused by the war
| The General Electric Company was
a pioneer in working out reforms de-
| signed to make the company more
renresentative of the democratic idea
Its plan, however. has been adopted
in only two of its principal WORKS.
| hut ultimately will be extended to m
clude all employees of the company,
as the plan has given satisfaction
| The international Harvester Com :
many gives as the purpose of It's
. plan the solution of relations between
/ the employees and the stockholders and
| manaeement on definite. durable
! basis of mutual understanding and
!, confidence" and to this end the plan
! proyiAes that the employees and the
/ management-mana repres ant-
p, ing the shall have
/! equal representation in the considera-
| tjon of all questions of policy re-
lating to working conditions. health.
safety, hours of labor. wages, recre-