Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1921-02-07

edge Of the many elements that go to
make up complicated business and
consequently they have an innate sus-
picion of all business.
Impassable Wall.
Despite the denial of many employ
e1s, there is an almost impossible wall
between the employer and the employ
lees. This wall is the direct result Of
the rapid growth that has taken place
in the business world and the loss of
that human element so essential to
the absolute success of any business.
This condition must in some way be
met and bond of sympathy must be
established between the employer and
his employees.
Many great factories lose enormous
ly in economy by not instructing their
oricrs in the secrets OF the business
in various departments. a worker
who understands what he is doing is
much more careful than the worker
who is entirely ignorant Of the work in
which he is engaged. Many OF the
great textile strikes in the east might
easily have been avoided if the girls
employed in the factories had received
even ordinary human attention.
American scfoo! children are taught
to be Independent thinkers and to be
cnterprising. The Declaration OF Inde-
United States give child the right to
believe that he has Il right to q voice in
what is going on about him. Whena child
has grown to manhood or wOmanhOOd
and enters Il factory or great plant
where he is considered as merely an
unintelligcnt cog in the wheel which
moves the great machine, without any
voice. the reaction which takes place
is unfavorablc. Such laborers join
unions and become the most rabid
strikers in time of trouble because they
have been denied any attention.
Trade Unions.
Miss Tarbell commented briefly on
the trade unions of the country. declar-
ing that it had been the costume since
time immemorial for men of Il particu-
lar trade or profession 10 band them
selves together in organizations. The
labor unions are no different than
other unions or organizations in that
both good and bad elements join them.
Some OF the worst scalawags in the
country have acted in the capacity OF
labor leaders and have done untold
harm to the laboring man by their COR
rlpt leadership. However, a labor
union intelligently conducted by sane
leaders. can be force for good to the
man.
The speaker also touched on the
strike question. She said that the two
worst things about a strike were the
social disOrganiZation which always
took place. resulting in long periods
of unemployment for the men striking,
ard the bitterness and ranking hate
which always hangs on for months at
ter a strike. Just as Il family quarrel
can best be settled within family,
SO strike can best be settled on the
factory grounds. The adoption of shop
in which both employer and
employee are equally represented, has
been adopted by many factories and has
been a great preventive against strikes.
This method has been adopted by the
International Harvester company tOl
great advantage.
Industrial Courts.
Industrial courts in which the en-
ployer, the employee and the public
were equally represented and in which
all labor troubles in the various sec
tions Of the country might be adjusted
would be a great help in solving the
problems of labor and capital.
Industry and labor must come to
each others viewpoint or
peace will never reign through the
land. Human understanding will do
much to bring tranquility again into in
dustrial circles and will go long way
in destroying the spirit of discomfort