The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-04-29
THE PRINCIPLES
 OF PROSPERITY OTTO H. KAHN

By OTTO H. KAHN

lotto H. Kahn Pittsburgh April 24)
 The principle which we should deal with the labor question is very simple. the principle of the Golden Rule l think formula should be that first of all labor is entitled living wage. After that, capital entitled a living wage. What is left over belongs to both capital and labor, in such proportion fairness and equity and reason shall determine in all cases
 It the main. right thinking men of capital and of labor would concur in the following points:
 l. The workman is neither machine nor a commodity. He is a partner with capital. He must be given full voice in determining the conditions under which he works either through organization factory or other unit or through unions, through both. Everything practicable must be done to infuse interest and conscious pur pose into his work and to diminish the sense of drudgery and monotony of his daily task. The clos est possible contact must be nalntalned between employer and employee. Machinery for the adjust ment of grievances must be provided which will work smoothly ana lnstantaneously. 1Eery Ielslple opportunity must be given to the workman to be informed as to the conduct of the business or which he forms part. He must nor De oeprlVeo of his employment without valid cause. Wherever it is practicable and really desired by the work men themselves 10 nave rePfeseh'7Llol on 'le Board of Direction I think that, too, should be ceded. It would give them better notion of the problems complexities and cares when the er1- ployer has to face It would tend to allay the picions the misconceptions which, so frequently' are the primary cause or trounIe' The workman would come to realize that capitalists not, perhaps, quite wise and deep as they are given credit for other hand, a good deal less grasping and selfish than they are ire quently believed to be. good deal more decent and well meaning, made of the human stuff the worker, without the addition of either
 
 2 The workers living conditions be dignifed and attractive himself and his family. Nothing is of greater importance To provide proper workers is of the most urgent and elementary duties of the employer, if he has necessary means, then of the State.
 g. The worker must De relieved of the dread sickness unemployment and old It is utter Iy inadmissable that because industry slacKens illness old age befalls worker, he and his family should therefore be condemned to suffer ing or to dread of suffering. The community must ind ways of seeing to it, by public works or honestly deSrOuS to do an honest days shall have opportun- ity to a living. Those unable to work must be honorably protected. The only ones on whom civilized community has a right its are those unwilling to work.
 4. receive which not only permits him to keep body and soul together but to lay something by a rainy day to take share of comforts joys and recreations of life
 5. Labor, the other hand, must realize that high wages can only be maintained if high produc- +ion is restriction of production is sinister and harmful fallacy most of all in its effect on labor The primary of poverty is ,nder-nroducton. High wages accompanied by cost of the essentials of living don't do the good. And they do the rest of the community a great deal of harm. The welfare of the so-called middle-casses i the shopkeeper the professional the farmer, is inst as important to the community as the welfare of the If through undue exactions, through of his power through made ouate output, the workman brings about condi- +ion in which pressure of high prices becomes tr+olarable to the middle classes, e create class anirnosity against himself which Is bound to he of infinite harm to his legitimate aspirations
 It must be admitted, unfortunately, that for long period past. society failed to give labor