Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-29
N|N|MIzES MONOTONY
FOR FACTORY WORKERS
This Is job Of S,illman A. Benway,
Who Joins Labor Department
Staff.
MAKES LIFE MORE PLEASANT
Is Firm Believer in Idea That Rou-
tine Jobs Kill Initiative and Stiilc
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Director NJ
tive of Boston.

BOSTON, June 2s.-Taking the mo-
notony out Of factory life is the object
OF "a Boston man who has Joined the
staff Of the training and duution SER
vice Of the department. OF labor. Still
man y. Bcnway, assistant director OF
thc planning division OF that service,
mas been asked to do Just that worh
lie pleasanter Tor the work,ngman,
but TO make possible for many factory
employees larger return Tor their
work.
Benway is firm believer in the
idea that routine Jobs kill initiative
ana st!fc Individuality. and that the
man who Is endless!y doing the same
little process in . factory. day after
interest in II. but 10 suffer positive
harm from the deadening effects Of "a
routine which, at the best, is oniy to!-
erabie. Moreover, there Is the danger
tnat such workman, once put GU, OF a
job, may be unable TO support him
self unless he can find just such
Job TO do elsewhere.
Learn Whole Industry.
The training and diiution service
plans TO correct this condition BY max
.nS II possible Tor factory hands not
oniy to master certain industrial pro-
cesaes, but 10 gain a iairly conprc-
hens;ve idea OF the whole industry in
which they are engaged In ,n!s way
tney VIII not only gain added inter
IS, in their work and stimulate their
mcnta! powers, Mr.. Bcnway believes.
II occasion demands II. Undertaking
other processes.
Moreover, their added knowledge
viii make them more valuable 10 their
employers and viii very probably brin 3
considerably more money into their
own pay envelopes than II they remain
mere scmi-skilIed !aborers.
Bcnway WAS born in Boston in 1879,
cd -
schools there. After taking some spe-
cial courses at Tufts College. he en-
tered the merchant marine and was at
SIX and half years. He also
became an organizer for the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor. and is now
president of machinists union H. his
home city. He came TO Washington
from the Charleston navy yard. for
which he recently was Instrumental in
obtaining a sl,i00,OO0 appropriation
which VIII be used for new machine
shops housing 5000. 900 worth OF ma
chinery, and for improved sanitary
conditions.
VIII broaden Horizon.
We are going to cooperate with
the manufacturers in this work" says
Benway, in describing The aims of the
broaden the horizon Of unskilled and
semi-skilled workers and 10 give them
improved industrial and mechanical
opportunities.
a workman as monotony in his job.
If we can do something toward giving
the factory employees of the country
a more general knowledge OF machine
work. We believe that we shall be do
ing work OF real value. 1t Is not a
good thing for any workman that he
should be dependent for his livelihood
one specialized process.
The reconstruction era is a particu-
larly fitting time in which To put this
project into effect. | think that work
men generally feel unnecessary fear
and apprehension regarding after-war
prospects. Reconstruction Will not be
so difficult as they expect"