The Washington herald., 1921-01-16
CONSERVE Toll,
CHECK WASTE,
ENGINEERS JOB
Hoover and Aids Move to
Make Peace in
Industry.
SALVAGING MEN
, BOON TO NATION
There Are No Panaceas
For Labor Unrest,
Says Expert.

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.-A nation
wide movement to conserve labor
, and stop Industrial waste has been
kstarted by. Herbert Hoover and his
associates in the American Engineer
g Council of the Federated Amer
an Engineering Societies. A Com
ittee on the Elimination of Waste
Industry has been formed and
Fill work with labor organizations
hambsrs of commerce and other or
limitations to bring about better
sorking conditions and to promote
harmonious relations between en-
ployer and employe.
Z, To offset the loss to the world of
millions of men through the ravages
of war is the task of the industrial
engineer. says a statement issued by
L. W. Wallace. Of Baltimore, vice
chairman of this committee, which
is considered by Hoover one of the
most important instruments through
which the engineers of America viii
carry out a far-reaching program
of public service.
Potential Loss to Future.
This loss does not only affect the
present, but future, for generations
10 come will realize the loss of these
men and their potential prosperity
Wallace declares. ITO offset this loss,
the industrial engineer must devise
new plans, new methods and new
equipment.
To Offset this loss the engineer
must give consideration to devising
means Of using that large army Of
industrial handicaps, men and wom-
en who, through accident or through
miscarriage of the laws of nature
are lacking in some essential faculty
pr sense
"A close analysis of the jobs OF
sork to be done in modern industry
Eill disclose that in the modern in
fustrial plant there is an opportu-
nifty for men and women with every
sort of handicap imaginable to do
successfully some piece of work. 1t
is the duty and responsibility of the
engineer to relieve industry and So
ciety Of such expense and loss by
making it possible for men, how
ever handicapped. to find useful en-
ployment.
Strike Source of Waste.
The strike is a very large source
of waste Of human labor. Millions,
/ do not know how many millions,
Of hours Of labor are lost each year
through strikes. All of this loss
could be conserrtc il the strike
sould be entirely eliminated, but We
do not believe that this will ever
crme 20 pass.
From time immemorial there
have been labor problems and it is
our conviction that, since labor
problems have always existed, so
they will continue to arise as long
as humanity is constituted as it is.
Therefore, I do not anticipate
that at this time, or any future
period, there will be evolved a
panacea that will forever solve any
and all problems that may arise
between employer and employe.
This is no more possible than
that a plan can be evolved whereby
there will be no more wars between
nations. Indeed plans can be form
ulated and principles can be laid
down which will greatly reduce the
Probability of labor disputes and
which will eliminate the likelihood
of many wars. Some form of in
dustriaI democracy on one hand and
a league of nations on the other
unquestionably will be an agent Of
great value and influence, but those
agents within and of themselves
will not eliminate labor troubles,
nor make impossible future wars.
In recent weeks we have heard
much about the efficacy of indus
trial democracy. of shop commit
tees, of senate and house plan. and
of collective bargaining, as panaeeas
for all labor problems. During the
same period. we have had striking
examples of the inadequacy of all
these plans. Industrial democracy
Is a misnOmer unless fairly and
honestly applied. Collective bar
gaining is a great danger II wrong
~ applied and il used as an in
strument of autocratic power.
Problems VIII Not Die.
No; labor problems have always
existed and are likely to continue.
There Is no panacea, as industrial
democracy, profit sharing, commit
tee system, open shop, closed shop
or collective bargaining. None of
these agencies will accomplish or
avail much unless there be behind
them and disseminated through ev-
cry fiber and thread. the spirit of
fairness, honesty and justice. II
these principles be present, there
WI be no labor trouble. And again,
II they be present, il does not mat
ter much what plan is used. This
accounts for many striking exam
pies Of the successful managemenr
Of labor through each of the plans
named. .-.. a
"It is the function and province
of the engineer to make the correct
analysis, to predict effect through
known causes. 1t is purely the
mission OF the engineer of wide ex-
perience, Of great foresight and of
unseIfiish motive to see to it: First,
that every action is based upon the
principles of honesty, justice and
fairness to the employe. the employ
sr and the public; second, to So for
.mulate the plan of action as to
eliminate all unfair privilege of en-
ployer and employe and to make il
possible for each to- fulfill its re-
sponsibility to, the community; and
third. to so organize the plant or
industry as to make IT exceedingIy
difficult for an incompetent TO hold
a position of authority or to have
autocratic CONTROL