Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-03
COLONEL HELPS
ARSENAL'S new
WORKING PLANS
Final Details of Organization Com
pleted for Employees on Gov.
eminent Island.

A statement issued today by Pay
son Irwin, office of the chief o.
ordnance at Rock Island arsenal,
announces the completion yester-
day of the final details of a works
organization for the arsenal which
marks a stage in the progress OF d
project Colonel H. B. Jordan has
had under way for many months.
Soon after taking command of
the arsenal Colonel Jordan entered
into correspondence with the chief
OF ordnance urging the need of a
perfected committee system to deal
with the important problems of in
dustrial relations. AS a result OF the
correspondence he sent to Wash
ington Lieut.. Colonel Streeter and
Captain Keller for conference on
plans then being drawn for the
peace time policy of ordnance to-
ward labor
Early in the rehabilitation per-
iod Major General Williams mad
announced his determination to put
into effect in ordnance a broad,
modern, comprehensive labor pol
icy, founded on the vital lessons
taught by the war To that end he
directed the transference of the
Industrial service section from inc
administration division to his own
office where he could give his per-
sonal attention to the important
questions affecting employees. This
point Of view can best be under
stood by quoting the memorandum
on ordnance labor problems issued
about that time:
Ordinance took a leading part il
the war time attempt to solve the
problems and devise the mechan-
isms of Industrial relations. 1t must
in peace. continue to do its part. As
a great manufacturing establish
. ment maintained for the people and
by the people of the nation, there
rests on it the obligation to develop
the most effective organization and
the best modes of procedure. This
can be done in the sphere Of in
dustrial relations by conserving the
gains made during the war and
gradually working out from these
gains a carefully planned organiZa-
ton for relieving the tensions and
taking up the Stacks that always
occur when human beings work to-
gether for a common purpose"
Did Not Wait.
Under the direction of General
Williams and Brigadier General
PIERCE, assistant chief of ordnance,
a plan Of works organization was at
once developed, as the necessary
mechanism for making concrete the
policy formulated. 1t was into the
midst of these plans that Colonel
Jordan's early suggestions about
works organizations came; the first
of the arsenal commanders to make
such suggestions, and for that rea-
son Rock Island arsenal has the
honor as well as the distinction of
taking the lead among ordnance es-
adjustments in developing indus
trial relations. 1t must be said %
the commanding officer of Rock Is
land, however, that he did not wait
for the perfected plans of Washing
ton before tackling his problems,
for soon after taking command he
organized committees of employees
to advise on matters affecting the
workers.
The plan of works organization
adopted yesterday by the command
ing officer and the conference COM
mittee of employees is believed to be
the most just and efficient WORKS
organization yet devised. 1t is an
organization built out of the exper-
fence of many English and Amer
lean industries. The defects and
strengths of every type of works
organization was studied and the
results embodied in the ordnance
plan. The plan is intended to give
real responsibilities to employees
and have them share in the success
as well as the hazards of such re-
sponsibility.
AS the success of any organiza-
ton depends finally on the spirit of
the humans in it, the future of the
arsenal works organization is more
than promising, for the good will
and hearty cooperation Of COM
handing officer and employees is a
surety of efficient operation.