The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1920-01-03

ion and share in the prosperity of the
ompany, the allied intesrests of Hen.
X Ford are carrying out the ideal OF
1r. Ford that labor has right TO par
ticipaticn in the benefits of the pros
oerity which it helps to create, and,
in the words of Henry Ford himself.
should have share as we'll as Joo.'
When the complete ownership of
he Ford Motor Compny was acquired
~ Henry Ford and his son last SUM
mer steps were Immediately taken
to work cut the deails of the bonus
and investment plans announced to-
day. 1t has always been the Ford
policy to discourage big dividends to
producing stockholders, and to
use profits in rewarding labor and in
expanding industry This policy, as
Henry Ford regards it. means not
only good pay and share of the pro-
its for the workers. but the employ
nent of more and more people as
he business grows.
Henry Ford holds, and has repeat
edly stated it as his belief, that no
man should be permitted to own stock
in a industry unless he plays apro-
luctive part in the operation of that
industry, and the in tiation of the IN
yestment plan is a practical applica-
ion of that belief.
Under the investment plan cer-ii-
aates will be issued in the names Of
Employees in the denomination of
$100, $500 and $1,000 Only per-
sons in actual and active service of
The organization will be permitted to
buy or hold certificates.
These certificates will bear a guar
anteed interest at the rate of six per
cent per annum and in addition to
this further payments will be made
semi-annually if the earnings of the
company permit, at a rate fixed by
the board of directors.
In case of death or disability certi-
ficates standing in the name of an
employee may continue at the discre-
tion of the directors to draw interest
and payments for the benefit of MS
dependents.
Deposits toward the purchase of
certificates may be made within three
days after an employee receives his
pay from the company; the amount
deposited, however, is not to exceed
one-third of such pay Deposits made
toward the purchase of certificates
will draw interest at the rate of three
per cent. per annum, compounded
semi-annually.
Certificate must be paid for out OF
bonus or pay and no employees Will
be permitted to draw morey from his
bank account or other source 70
make payments.
A significant statement may ne
found in one of the closing sentences
| of the company's announcement. 1t
reads: "Other plans for enlarging the
| income and increasing power of the
| dollar of our employees are under
| consideration"
The policy reflected by these 81
| nouncements is not new with the Ford
organization. The history of the com
pany for the last five years shows
! that its ideal of industrial justice has
always been high. In 1914 the Ford
Motor Company announced a mini
mum pay of $5 a day, since which
time it has distributed approximately
100 million dollars in profits to en-
! ployees. Following this Mr.. Ford
was sued by minority stockholders and
compelled to pay dividends instead
CT reinvesting earnings and increasing
wages as he desired. Sometime later.
however, came the announcement If
dings of minority stockhldersssio u
a $6 a day minimum scale and thea
the purchase of the holdings Of MI
nority stockholders by Henry and I'd
sci Ford.
No soDncr wa the organiHl -iod IN
their complete possession than the
began to arrange for an additional dis
tribution Of profits with their thous-
ands of workers and the result is the
New Year announcement of an $8,-
100000 bonus and the right to share
in the prosperity Of the industry.