New-York tribune., 1920-02-22


duty as managers to assist in max
ing them good citizens.
From my own experience I feel
personally a deep interest in them
and with their aspirations. I feel
keenly, too, my duty to them-a
duty that I have tried to fulfil both
because I understand and sympa-
thize with the workers and because
/ know that no manufacturer can
be successful who fails to appro-
ciate and live up to the full measure
of that duty. ] know that no indus
try can succeed II those who toll
in it day by day are unjustly and
unfairly treated.
Therefore, as measures OF JUS
tice, as we'll as measures for the
benefit Of our industry, our COM
pany has undertaken to do some
thing to take the place Of the lost
personal contact with workers; to
do something for the betterment of
their conditions; to look after them
in illness as we'll as when they are
at work; to assist In their educa-
ton and knowledge Of our American
ideals and institutions.
will not trouble you with the
narration of what we have already
done, but I will say that we intend
to lose no opportunity to promote,
wisely and Justly, the happiness
and prosperity of those upon whose
labors this great industry depends.
In the past we have had our
troubles and disagreements. De-
mands have been made by tho
workers which I have felt, in JUS
tice to the investors and to the
public, I could not grant. But some
times, no doubt, myself have been
mistaken.
But the greatest mistake Of all
has been when the management and
workers have failed to recognize the
absolute necessity Of team work,
SYMPATHY and unity Of purpose in
maintaining this industry upon
which both Of us equally depend for
our livelihood.
In the thirty years Of my expert
ence / have labored to secure the
confidence of our workers, to make
them feel my desire to be just; to
make them feel that I have really
wanted to help them as we'll as to
have their help. I am happy to say
that with the experience of these
years l think l. now know my Job
better; that have made our peo-
pie feel more and more my desire
to help them and my desire to be
just and fair; and that thereby /
have been getting nearer to the So
luton of this problem which at
times has SO perplexed and discour-
aged me. Things have happened
of late in the relations Of our en-
ployees and the management that
have touched me very deeply, and
that have given me new confidence
IN the future as we'll as deep salts
faction.
/ indulge In no illusions. know
that we shall have our troubles and
disagreements In the future, some
what as we have had in the past.
but hope and believe that we shall
approach them with new spirit and
new appreciation and a new re-
gard each for the viewpoint Of the
other.
In passing may I allude to a
somewhat delicate subject affecting
the relations Of the workers and
the management. I have felt dis
tinctly that the friendly and cordial
relations which ought to exist be-
tween the management and workers
has at times been interfered with
by the action Of outsiders. It has
been the habit of certain people to
go about among the workers in our
different mills in an attempt to ex-
cite In them feeling that they are
unjustly treated. There are two
classes Of people who have INDUCED
in this practice. There are the
social workers and philanthropists
who act from a sincere desire to
better the conditions Of the worker
and are really anxious to help.
They are we'll meaning people, and
there can be no doubt that in some,
perhaps many, cases grievances
really exist - the very grievances
which we are trying to remedy. OF
these people l make no complaint
or criticism. The purposes which
they attempt to achieve are. praise
worthy. But I venture to think that
they might accomplish more, in CO.
operation with the management.
than in stirring up feeling against
it.
Of the other class nothing good
can be said. Their motives do not
believe are unselfish, nor is what
they do helpful or beneficial to the