The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-12
PRODUCTION IS
 KEYNOTE TO HIGH
 LIVING STANDARD

SIpplnS mas Just reached me or the statement made to Times representative. after nv address before the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce recent1v on "Common-Sense in Municipal Government" in which con tended for the commission-man- ager form of government with clty-wide non-partisan, preferen- tlaI ballot, as being the only form or municipal government and administration which is both democratic and efficient.
 In my interview with your rep- resentadVe I pointed out the ne ceSslty for government to become more efficient and business to become more democratic. think it is pretty well understood what is meant by greater effici- ency in governments I am not . so sure that the phrase, greater democracy in business means the same thing to all of us May l ask your readers to bear with me a few moments while I af- tempt a definition of industrial democracy It means. as see It, essentially this: that the indis- pensable partners to industry capital, labor and mana cement must become active and whole
 
 they always have been in theory, Capital is entitled to it's meet re- turn and its say in the counsels of management; labor also is en- titled to it's meet reward and a due voice in determining the con- dluons under which it will make Its contribution. Upon manage ment devolves the responsibility for tremendously joining the forces or energies of both capital and labor in the service of the community. To managing as to make labor feel in truth it is a partner, to the end that it will freely and fully cooperate in achieving maximum production at minimum cost, is democracy in industry made practical.
 Just one more point. In the heading I am credited with hav- ing ascribed unemployment to poor management, whereas what actually said was this:
 Unemployment is ascribab1e almost wholly to inefficient, short-sighted management and for the persistent failure of our people to coordinate the energies and resources of government and industry
 In other words, the responsf- bility, in the last analysis, rests upon the whole people and the problem can only be solved by the earnest cooperation of all of us, under viSioned leadership.
 What we all must learn-and this applies to labor as well as in veStorS and manager that the only real wealth of the nation is production and that the laws of economics and morality cannot be ignored for any length of time by any factor without dire consequences ensuing.
 For the present crisis, while la Dor is perhaps less blame worthy than capital and management, it can by no means escape a portion of the responsibility, because un- der the leadership of the wrong type of men Oike Brindel in New Yorll) it has used it's powers of organization to exact higher wages without bothering it's head to keep up, to say nothing of in creasing production. As one re- suit of this mistaken policy of la bor is the largest factor-have scared to such a point that the average man can no longer af- ford to invest in a. house; whence a great curtailment in building operations, sky-rocketing rents, widespread unemployment - not only in the building trades but in all contributory industries and general suffering in which the high-priced, under-produc- ing unionized worker participates along with his less well-paid of flee and professional fellow worker.
 Production must progressively outStrip the cost of living, else the present standard of living cannot be maintained, let alone be eIe- vated.
 Labor must give more to have more, and management most see to it that labor gets at all times its due share of the rewards of industry Unemployment will come to an end, as a recurring problem of gravity, only when o-operatiOn-betwe labor and capital, and between industry and the government-repla very generally the present sense1ess, antagonism and useless comped- ton.
 We must all realize that we are members one of another, and that what injures one harms all the rest, and conversely, that what truly blesses one blesses all.
 (Signed)
 HARRY FRANKLIN PORTER New York. (1o East 3sth St)