Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-07
SIMEON van T. JESTER
Tra)nlno industrial Executives


THE human problem in industry and Its
L correct solution is one Of the fnnda.
mentals of business today, says Simeon van
r. Jester. superintendent of the department
Of mechanical instruction at Girard College.
'"There are two great types OF American
business executives" said Mr.. Jester. 'One,
admitting that he does not know 1t all, Is
seeking in every way to improve MS
product, to give his workers square deal,
to deal fairly with its competitors and to
render the highest service to the public; the
other. complacently content to follow OLD
methods, blinded by past successes to the
great changes that are sweeping through In
dustry. taking advantage of the Ignorance
and the necessities Of its workers and
having as its ideal maximum profits. re-
gardless Of quality.
"Of NIL the valuable by products of the
great war. the open mind Of the modern
executive stands ont rs the one of first I'M
portance. The incident of the college profes..
sor who was able to increase, the range or
our field artillery by about 30 per cent by
n slight change in the shape OF the smell
Is typical of what Is going on in industry.
Many plans which were once considered
visionary are now being accepted MS sound
business policies, and everywhere the for
ward looking employer Is laying his cards
on the table and taking his workmen into
his confidence.
Broader knowledge Desired
fNcryWncTe groups Oh sHOp eAeCutlFeS
are analyzing and studying their jobs and
finding ways of cutting costs and making
the shop life of the workers more pleasant.
During the last winter 1900 shop executives
in Milwaukee have been taking a course to
enable them to become more efficient; in
Flint. Mich, executives from all the auto
mobile plants have combined In putting over
an educational program which compares
quite favorably with that of some of the
best technical schools; Pittsburgh con:
Germ has for several years offered exceptional
educational opportunities to its apprentices
and younger employees; in Rochester. Har.
rsburg. Boston. Cincinnati and other great
industrial centers some of the keenest minds
in industry nre focused on the education
and upgrading of workmen
'"The most notable advances In the train.
ing of industrial executives has been made
In Philadelphia under the direction of the
Philadelphia Association for the Discussion
of Employment Problems, with the as
eistance of the Board of Education and the
department. OF industry of the University
of Pennsylvania. This cooperative move
ment for the improvement of industrial
conditions In Philadelphia stands out as the
big industrial advance since the war and
one of which this city may we'll be proud
''At some of the meetings of this asso :
citation more than 1000 shop executives
have been present and vital manufacturing
problems and questions Of industrial rela -
tons have been discussed by specialists In
CaCn HcIu. SOuTScS nave DPeU maintained
for foremen. textile workers. time study
men. works managers and superintendents
Many conferences of employment and plant
managers have been held and some splendid
research work has been done. During the
last year the scope of the association bas
been broadencd and the talent and training
which has been brought to bear upon the
common difficulties have produced some cx.
trcmcly beneficial results.
Ignorance Breeds Suspicion
"Many thousands of dollars have becn
expended in perfecting machines, in i'm.
proving plants and in developing bctter
methods OF manufacturing, but until Guite
recently the employer has given but little
attention to solution of the human prob.
lens In industry. AS result there havc
been many misunderstanding and not n
little suspicion on the part of the workmen
This was strikingly shown In a nlant
recently when the works manager oycrbna -
foreman criticizing the company for Tho
raw deal which 1t was giving the men and ,'S
the large profits the management "rau, "Mu
taking out of the business. The mano,an
returned to his Office. brought out tbs coz, ;
pany books, sent for the foreman nnd
showed him what the company did vi,h
each dollar received for the finished prodnot
"Iie showed him the cost OF material
labor, the various burden charges. ndver ;
tising, marketing. interest. war tax and Tho
cost OF supervision, In which was included
the foreman's pay. At the conclusion ,ha
foreman. with genuine regret for his hostv
Judgment, said: If we Ind knowod whot
you was up against In keeping tie nlamt
going, we would have taken the cut in ps '
YdfhnDk n0oA 2Wn. - ~ ~