Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-30
A. ]. CHURCHILL
On Solving the Labor Problem

VII So'NlHS tHc IdpoT
30 OPERATION between employer and
~ employe as the permanent remedy for
industrial unrest and an ultimate solution
of the labor problem is the aim Of the Phila
drlpha Association for the Discussion of
Employment Problems, says its executive
secretary. a. J. Churchill.
The association, which embraces 100
firms, go executives and employment mana
gers and nearly 1000 foremen and forewomen
in the industries and business houses of the
city" said Mr.. Churchill. "aims to make
a operative study and investigation into
all the conditions that affect the human rela-
tions between employer and employe; to re-
duce labor turnover, stimulate production by
the adoption of improved methods Of recruit
ing labor. placement and training OF labor,
better factory conditions and the organiza-
ton of educational betterment work in in
dustral plants and business houses.
",Tust at the present time we are ap-
preaching a critical point in our history.
Bolshevism and unrest are the order of the
day in various parts of the world. The
battle of several centuries between labor and
capital has reached the stage where one Of
two things may happen. Before the war
labor accused capital of exploiting 1t and of
dealing unfairly. During and since the war
capital has charged that labor was arrogant
and unreasonable and did not live up to its
agreements and is cynical.
1.-THE question now is, will capital further
organize as labor and try to retaliatc for
its treatment of the last five or six years,
and suspicious labor grid its loins for battle
aud try to overthrow capital and become
itself the autocrat of industry, or shall the
two get together and decide on n plan of
amicable relations and co operation?
Public Is the Umpire
"In the meantime the great third party,
the public, which il really the umpire of the
game cries a plague on both your houses.
Like the umpire in the great American game.
he often gets his bumps from both sides.
'The public is beginning to be realized by
many industrial heads as n big factor In the
fight All industries depend more or less on
1t for their support and expansion. Their
stocks are on the market, and great many
of this same public are stockholders today.
"An element that until recently was not
80 much considered has entered into this
question of relationship, and that is the
human, the personal element. Public opn-
ion abolished the swcatshOp, because it de-
cided that goods produced in such way
were not the kind the public wanted to buy
Concerns nowadays are making a bid for
this opinion as a selling point by paying
very strict and comprehensive attention to
the question Of working conditions, morale
among its employees fair wages and scores
of other personal details that did not used
to be considered necessary.
1T has been realized by many that strug-
gle and misunderstanding are economic
waste. loss of producing power and conse-
quently Of profits. Many have realized that
an extra profit Of, say, fifty or hundred
thousand dollars or more one year at the
expense of their employees is likely to result,
through discomfort, in a corresponding loss
at a critical time.
Another thing TO be considered Is the
element of personal relationship between the
owner of business or industry and his
officials and other employees. The association
plans to secure n co operative system
whereby all the elements in the business
will know and understand each other. where
all their problems will be an open book to
each other and where they shall meet at the
same table and nmiCably adjust between
themselves any differences that may arise.
Sharing With Employees
at Is further hoped to show the adyisa :
bility Of making employees shareholders in
| the various businesses, so that they will
| feel that they actually have something at
| stake in the rise or fall Of the business, and
| of making employers see that increased out
nut and quality Of product by virtue of more
efficient better contented labor will paw n
| fair profit as well as a larger share Of the
| profits than with a less contented force.
| "Another point to be considered is the
| fact that the ability Of labor to do fine
] work. and plenty Of it, is impaired by the