The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-29
1EMocRATIzING INDUSTRY

nave been cast aside and new ones substituted remarkable
article in the New York World Mr. P J. Campbell president
81 number OF mills at Peacock Point Long Island, tells
81 the change and benefits that have this great in
iustry 1t took him long time to learn existing conditions and
when he learned the truth he amazed There was an o
fona labor dispute OF the mills and do what he could
ne could never get to bottom of q found he says that
II free agent to talk to my own operatives lie knew
none of them personayneve them excepting at dis
tance when they were trudging from work Each mill
was little kingdom in which the superintendent was the car
who resented any intrusion claimed the right talk for the
mploves The superintendent maintained strict censorship
uppressng all expresson the part OF the employees ana
preventing the intrusion Of progressive thought or any change
made and originated by himself The superintendent was
opposed any organization the employees lhey were 10
10 as he said, and do thinking for themselves,
Mr. Campbell business man saw that by organizing ne
could deal with his operatives collectively which was great
economy of time and he encouraged unonis In this way ne
could come personal contact with his operatives learn th
viewpoint and receive many valuable suggestions from them lie
discovered the prevailing system was wrong and thus com
nients: 49,. |
rs that employers have given scant thought
10 the welfare OF workers, Have concerned ourselves
pvermuch about their working condons Have we not as
rule resisted every effort they have made at eTProNemen
Have failed to adopt safety appliances and then resisted
employers liability acs'
bo many Of tbs not still endeayot to defeat the workers
Organization into unions for their protection And can they
successfully organized capital without organized aoo
Do we strive pay labor little possible and then
discharge them en- nas in times Of slack demand regardless OF
ie dire consequences 10 the working body
This indictment too true Directors great organ5zaors
employing thousands OF people look for results They n
erned only with profits and net earnings and the foreman VINO
can show the best balance sheet esteemed the best 1 The
human or personal element wholly excluded President Camp
bell changed all this lie gospel in these wards
principal products should be happy and prosperous men and
women first and good cloth second Conented people make
good cloth automatically He took counsel with his operatives
e encouraged them to make suggestions for their own bene
fit and the benefit OF the company and he was rewarded
by much valuable advice Men and women personal contact
h the work knew about and could where more I'M
oyements could be made than onookers and theorists
These suggestions adopted and proved valuable Many
hm had been rejected by the superintendent or received with
Z contemptuous grunt OF federation.
Campbell looked upon Bohevst by his associates,
Whose philosophy confined to this theorem we are not
making profit enough reduce operating expenses and the short
lest way thisand the only way they can see by reducing
wages This often brings expensive trouble Capitalists the
interested very often blamed for the sins OF Others
for the OF and suhordnates VINO do what they as
approve Of but which they ndorsc because discipline must
be preserved 1t splendid sign to such great employers
m labor as Campbell awakening the fact that they their
brothers keepers and that cooperation instead OF conflict the
wiser and profitable policy to pursue All are parts the
great human family and injury to is an injury to aeven
the who does the injury to another There are many nd
cations industrial LIE OF better understanding between Gata
and labor When the mining interests Colorado were all torn
up and civil almost precptaed by the W. w. John Rookie
teller IT, who is largely interested visited that state and made
personal study of conditions He went to see the men at work
In the mines talked with them made friends with them visited
their homes talked their wives and children made himself
one al them and in this way learned the conditions He
tabshed of councils to which the miners and
operators carry their grievances discuss them IN friendly
ever since 1t was great wothe most Servceabe since erc
nrpanized system for his sonn-aw Moscs~Whct
system we have until this day
Before the the dollar omnipocnthc man moth
ing The war put the above the dollar The needed
in the army Without the the dollar was helpless, Herr,
Ford ordered minimum wage of S. per day for
an and child in his great Detroit works Wages might higher
but not lower His associates in the various industries locke
upon him as Boshev and predicted dire disaster but he ha
continued to grow and prosper
The government had to order work done plus 10 pc
profit and the contractors found themselves i'll posito
where the wages they paid workmcn the the
profits Bad business but necessary Xpedcn With the e>
cepon OF salaries which the last feel upward endenc
wages are probably higher than before the worlds hso
Profit sharing has become quite general and labor has ceased
be regarded az commodity like salt and sugar We have Anne
to be democratic politically, while remained despoc ndu
nialy but we are learning better We fast democratzng
ustry and making the worker feel that he interested in
success OF his particular enterprise aside from the that
earns His confidence and cooperation sought rather thu
his dstrs and antagonsm The world is getting better, and
heads and ruling spirits Of great industrial enterprises
learning many valuable lessons
This will prevent despotsm either part Of empoye
OF the workers where has proved disastrous in Russ
under soviet Despotm will not do either in politics or