The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-08
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

| The Fourth of July this year was bi- furcated one. as some combined it with Sunday, while others waited until Mon day to celebrate. | I was invited to several cues. but as they all came on the same day I ac- cepted the one at Lewisburg, for evi- dently Walter F. shillito, the efficient su- perintendent of the welfare work of the Alabama Company. knew my weak point
 He wrote me as follows: Dear MT. Bar nett; Inasmuch as you are so strong for the welfare of our fellow men, we would gladly welcome you to our barbe- cue and sports at Lewiesburg on Monday next. Aside from the eats we are to have a ball game. races etc, and it is possible we might prevail upon you to talk. Of course, we know from your articles that you are somewhat back ward in doing such things"
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 l What more could I ask? accepted at once, for I have never been known to pass up a barbecue and watermelon cut ting, and chance to make speech. At il o'clock car came in for me and we whizzed out Superintendent Wood gave me hearty welcome, and soon I was Joking over the camp, and found much that was interesting from every stand point.
 | Now, just word about welfare work. | do not believe that it can ever be sub stitute for proper wages; but do know that when men are treated fairly in their pay envelope. a company can then show kindly feeling for it's employees by mak- ing their working conditions safe and their living conditions comfortable. It's just question of incorporating the spirit of the Sermon on the Mount into modern business.
 l I know that for a while welfare work fell into the hands of bunch of anna teurs. and 1t was brought into disrepute, as they seemed to be more intent on get ] ting publicity for themselves and the plants in which they served than in really doing anything helpful for the employees And to make it worse, they assumed a patronizing air in their dealing with the workers and their families
 l Small wonder, then, that for awhile self-respecting working people took nt- tie stock in all of the fads which went under the name of welfare work But by | degrees trained workers got into the game, and let it be known that it was not intended as a sop or done as charity. but because the best thought of the time had found out that it was a good thing all around. and that the companies we're not wholly altruistic in their efforts to raise the standard of living among the workers. but because it had been found to be a paying economic proposition.
  1 For quite while the welfare work was left to experts (this after the amateur had made a mess of it), but even they found out that it was impossible to im- pose a working system on any camp or community that was satisfactory unless the people themselves took interest in it, and had big voice in the management All patronizing airs have been discarded, all thought of it's being charity has been abandoned; for all see that the solution must come through spirit of fraternity. | I am fairly familiar with the welfare work in the various industries in the Birmingham district, from the little be- ginnings in some of the small plants to the working organizations on a large scale in the great corporations. The men who are behind the movement are men of goodwill This applies equally we'll to the employers and the employees. for without cooperative effort on the part be wrought out
 am writing about the Alabama Com pany. just now, for the simple reason that I have just visited the Mary Lee camp i(Lewisburg is the postoffice). found that MT. Shillito had taken the old commits sary and converted it into a community hall. and was putting in tennis courts. There is already a baseball park and pavilion. The negroes have not been neglected, for they. too, have their own playground and pavilion.
 l I was never more surprised in my life at school situation than I was at Lewis- burg, for there I found two handsome brick school buildings, among the very best in the county. one for the white and one for the colored people. Prof, j. A. Harper Is not only a pedagogue, but he | s- l.i T ~R Boy Scout organization. Miss Self has charge of the Campfire Girls, and Mrs $. B. Walker is the active head of the School Improvement Association The community is thoroughly organized and is working together in beautiful harmony l I spent many weeks with Mrs. Mathis in stirring up sentiment for war gar dens, but take it from me. I have never trouble to have a garden as has the Levy isburg one, for theirs was made by dyna- mite. The only available spot was a vir- gin forest at the foot of the hill but Superintendent Wood was undismayed and told them if they wanted it he would clear it of trees. was amazed at the ease with which dynamite can be used to blow great pines out of the ground. ss
 l I went down to watch the flying jenny and to see the negroes dance. thought that I knew something about dancing among the colored people. for in my boy hood days I had looked in on many of