Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-05-18
MORALE AND -1NpusrR1AL DEMOCRACY,

@S1AAAC AXvD
A writer on railroad topics in a current magazine
discusses some Of ,the problems with which the railroads
have to contend through increasing labor costs, greater
material costs, troublesome rules and regulations. and
no forth, but he says that IL he owned all the railroads
In the country he would be glad to assume all these
things II he could only have restored the morale which
characterised railroad work in tho earlier years OF It's
history.
u Industrial democracy Is betng widely advocated as
= means OF curing some OF our Ills. Il y urged thai the
worker l nan industry. no matter in what capacity,
should have q voice in the management Of the industry
in which he is engaged. and that il proper provision Is
made for this there will DO created a spirit Of loyalty to
the industry which can be attained In no other way.
Some Of the arguments advanced in favor Of this
principle appear to have great force, but the railroad
writer above cited recalls, as others Will do, that a very
effective form Of this sort Of loyalty existed long before
what we call industrial democracy was heard OF. And
in formulating our theories. no matter in what direction
they lead. it will not do to ignore facts.
An old logging contractor a few years ago spoke
OF the change which had come over the labor situation
( IN the camps which he operated. The old-time loeEers
he said, were apt to be q pretty rough lot. Many Of them
were hard drinkers and hard fighters. and on occasion
that would take a camp to pieces with very little cere-
mony. They needed the guidance OF a strong hand.
and sometimes the discipline of 4 heavy one. But
said the old contractor, those fellows could and did SGT
out the logs @ ~
Those rough and ready chaps knew nothing and
cared nothing about theories OF government. They knew
nothing about industrial relations. They had no desire
to participate in camp management. In their personal
relations they were Independence personifed In their
WIN SiNS uCAAoAAS" = SSo' V~"~n S"~s
the now boss to SEQ II he measured up to their require
ments. He might be AZ rough as themselves. He might
be . drivcr-they rather expected that But II they
found him capable and square. they would lot him drive
thorn Off their legs without complaint. and they would
60 through fir. for him and do it gladly. Wages and
conditions OF housing and labor figured in the situation.
not so much on the basis Of the Interests of the men a.
they did in providing evidences OF tho character Of the
boss. II they We're poorly paid and poorly fed while the
boss made big profits. he was lucky II he got out OF the
woods with q whole skin. II they knew that he wss hay:
x-- a rn.. ~ hard lurk and a doing tina hNK hp could
foe them, they would work for him. suffer with him.
fight for him, do anything to see him through.
It Is to this spirit, q combination OF personal loyalty
and pride hn overcoming obstacles apparently insuperaole.
that Mr.. uungcrford refers in hts railroad article. How
far il has disappeared may be an open question. How
greatly 1t may be stimulated by the application Of tho
m>thods Of so-cslled industrial democracy u debatahie.
But that It did exist in . very marked degree, in the lun-
ser business. Ia the railroad business. and In many. other
tines, long bstcrs we began to apply tho refined an
alydcsl methods OF the present to our industrial work
III undesirable And II that spirit 10 beneficial, ana ~
with 10 retain Il. 4 may be worth while TO inquire vhsthsr
M may not ~ worth white now to revive and continue
in operation sDms of thS eAasss which produced that
apdrft kong agos