Evening star., 1919-08-31
Description Is Alluring.

Description Is A1luring.
The kindly apostle of "self-govern-
ment in industry" who indited that
scenario expresses his opinion that
the wage-workers of Great Britain
have already paved much of the way
to the goal of his vision. first. through
having their spokesmen in the work
shop: secondly, through the "enlight-
ened self-abnegation of autocratic
control by certain employers. and
the whitley committee report.
Have the wage-workers Of Great
Britain. or Of any other country. for
that matter, really paved much OF
the way to the goal seen in the vision
can best be answered by considering
somewhat in detail just what Is In
volved in the management of the
average business. First. it must be
things the marketing of shares de-
termining the form of incorporation.
and multitudinous other things that
will suggest themselves at once to
purely physical side. which means
that site must be selected and a
building erected. following which ma
chinery must be installed. There are,
voIved in th1 development of this
phase of management. The plant to
be run must have efficient operating
and sales forces. Then there are evil
dent financial questions. such as the
buying of supplies and raw materials.
meeting the methods of competitors.
action in crises such as fire. flood
and disaster. and many other things
too numerous to mention. which re-
quire long experience, sound educa-
tion and good judgment There are
also such questions as the fixing of
the percentage of depreciation. en-
\ployment of attorneys, choosing
forms charity. and other similar
questions which are certainly far re-
moved from the province of labor as
we know 1t in any country at the
present time.
The whole matter comes down to
troll in any industrial establishment
must have either personal training
or expert advice as to the points emu
merated above. coupled with sufficient
cope continually with keen-minded
competitors. They mpst also be able
to rise to the self-discipline necessary
TO secure united action in board of
directors representing both capital
and labor. Furthermore, placed in
such a position, labor would neces-
sarily be compelled to accept all the
consequences of control. including,
when necessary. the passing of divi-
dends, sharing of losses. reducing of
wage scales, dismissing surplus en-
ployes. atolishing the minimum wage.
sacrificing certainty of income and
incurring various forms of liability.
The promoters of the recently dis
racy in industry begin their argu-
ment by calling attention to the Con
troll" by shop spokesmen under agree
ments with employers. The degree to
in fact, it should be called control,
merits consideration.
Shop Representatives Functions.
The functions of shop labor repre-
sentatives are usually defined in the
contracts made between employers
and trade unionists. They common
ly name as matters of negotiation
wages, hours, shop facilities. super
intendence, regulations, with the
many ramifcations of each.
The second stage toward "self-gov-
eminent in industry" is achieved. by
the new theory. when the workers
absorb functions turned over te
them. in part. through the self -abne-
cation of autocratic control by far.
sighted employers" The most con.
spicious illustration submitted Of this
alleged transmission of directive pow,
ers to the workers is the Renold fac.
tories of Manchester. 1t may legiti-
mately be examined as a test Of the
theory.
In a memorandum on the subject
Mr.. Renold himself submits list o.
subjects which he regards as mat
tiers susceptible Of negotiation be.
tween employers and employees, and
he includes in this list all of the sub
jects mentioned above, as common
topics of negotiation. but he is ex
ceedingiy cautious in going farther
than those subjects He suggests al
profitable to both sides, morally o.
financially certain shop practices by
employers, such as interpreting to tn,
workers new rules or shop develop
ments coming from the managemen mt
discussing and working out in con
junction with the workers educationa
matters relating to shop processes