New-York tribune., 1919-09-05
At Rock Island
the Editor Of The Tribune.

me EdttOT OF Ihc Tribune.
ANlR: In your issue of today on the edi-
- torial page you publish very conspicu-
ously an article entitled "The Govern
ment Takes Partner" and in the headlines
occurs the statement that "employes elect
their own foreman and practise kind of
government"
The system of committees instituted ar
the Rock Island Arsenal is similar in or-
ganlzatlon and purpose to the committees
now organized in various private industrial
enterprises
Inc purpose of these committees is indi-
Gated IN statement issued by the Secretary
OF War on September 2, 1919, a COPY of
which inclose herewith, and which YOU
did not publish in the article mentioned
above.
have not instituted at Rock Island the
kind Of system indicated in the headlines of
your article and l have no intention of
DONG SO. c. c. WILLIAMS,
Major General, Chief of Ordnance u S. A.
New York, Sept. a, 1919
lhaciosurel
September 2. 1919.
The Secretary Of War authorizes the
following statement to-day:
The publication of the correspondence
between representatives of arsenal en-
ployes and the Secretary of War has led
to widespread misunderstanding of the
situation. The War Department has en-
couraged the formation of committees of
its employees in the arsenals, which COM
mIttees consult freely with the men and
ACT IN an advisory capacity to the man
agcment on questions of shop conditions
production and wages; by this means
nas tJ
complete sympathy between the manage
ment and the employees has resulted. The
authority of the management. however, is
wholly undimin shed by the advisory rela-
tlon OF the committees; the management
Of the plants is undisturbcd: the govern
ment operates them and the authority of
the commanding officer is as complete as
1t has always been.
The whole purpose Of the steps which
nave been taken is to bring about under
standing and good feeling, but not in any
sense to part with either the responsible
lty OF the authority of the government in
the management Of these industrial en-
terprlSes.
The editorial page article referred to
by General Williams was merely the full
text Of the letters and memorandum is
sued from the War Department News
Bureau on the Rock Island Arsenal ex-
pertinent. The headline was The Trib-
une's own. 1t read "The Government
Takes Partner" 1t was suggested bv
statements contained in the War Depart
ment's own matter, G. g.:
The situation eventually so DEVELOPED
that the employees were permitted to Sc
lcct their foreman, very interest
ing and worthy enlargement of the prin-
clple of democracy already mentioned"
"They even went so far, as long as
they enjoyed a genuine participation in
the determination of shop processes and
plecework prices, to recommend reduc-
tions i'll these prices when earnings be-
came excessively out of proportion due
to improved methods of manufacture, al
ways trying to be consistent in one drec-
hon as well another"
There is attached hereto a statement
concerning the way things work when the
employees are enabled to participate in
the management of the shop"
The statement from Secretary Baker
printed above with General Williams's
letter had already been published in full
in The Tribune's news columns.-Ed.1