Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-26
PARTIAL SUCCESS OF
rockefeller Plan
IN PUBLIC REPORT

New OrE, Jan. 20.-Ino ftOCke-
Teller plan of employees representa-
ton. which was introduced In the
mines of the Colorado Fuel and Iron
Company Immediately following the
famous strike Of 1913 and which has
since been adopted in hundreds Of
other plants has proved to be only a
partial success. according to pre-
liminary report made public today
by the Russell Sage Foundation.
which since 1919 has been studying
the operation of this and other
plans for giving wage-earners
share in the management of indus
try. The full report. covering 500
printed pages. will be issued within
the next month.
= In making the report public. Mary
Van klceck. Director of the Founda-
tons Department of Industrial
Studies. said it has n three-fold sig
nificance for industry generally and
for the country at large: 1t reveals
the underlying causes of the peren-
NAL controversy between coal miners
and mine operators; it is the first
impartial appraisal of the most
prominent experiment in employees
representation-ane experiment which
was the forerunner of the shop COM
mittees, works councils. and similar
projects introduced in about 1000
companies within recent years In an
effort to solve labor difficulties: 1t
points the way to termination of
the conflict between the employers
interested in employees representa-
ton plans and organized labor which
has thus far bitterly opposed such
plans in the belief that they set
up company unions" designed to
replace labor unions.
The industrial representa ton plan
was developed by w. S. Mackenzie
King. now Premier of Canada. at the
the report says. and was introduced
at the mines OF the company by Mr..
Rockefeller. At each mine two or
more representatives are elected by
tho employees to serve for one year.
These representatives from all
branches Of the company meet peri
od:cally with an equal number OF
company officials. AT these confer
enccs any matter which employees
desire to have discussed can be
brought up. There are also in each
mining district joint committees
composed of equal numbers of en-
ployes' representatives and company
officials to consider: 10 safety and
'iSCittIlS, W ISrilllI anu
housing: (3) recreation and educa-
ton: ca industrial cooperation and
Cancellation.
The report says that as n result
of this plan. working and living con-
ditions are more wholesome and
happy for the miners and their fam
lilies. but that the miners are not
satisfied that. their representatives
have the power to protect them in
decisions regarding wages and other
conditions of work.
"Employes' representation. rs
practised in the mines of this COM
pany." Miss Van Kleeck said. works
a revolution in remedying the out
standing grievances of an earlier
decade, but-limited as it is to con-
ference. concerned primarily with
adjustment of grievances, and fail
ing to take cognizance of organized
labor-it does not develop leadership
or stimulate iterest among the wage
earners. The lesson for industry
generally in the experience of this
company is that giving wOrkmen q
voice in the management of indus
try Is decidedly a step toward perm
anent industrial peace and efficiency,
but the measure of success to be OBJ
taired by an employees representa-
ton plan depends on the sincerity
and intelligence with which the plan
Is carried out by foremen. superin-
tendents and higher administrative
officials"
The report credits the company
with much more liberal attitude
toward unioniSm since the employees
representation plan was introduced,
but adds that conflict is In exist
ence in Colorado between employees
representation and trade unionism,
which must be dealt with before any
plan can be made to work satisfac-
tortly.
There is in this situation" de-
clare the Foundations investigators,
IAN opportunity for n piece of con-
structive craftsmanship on the part
of Mr.. Rockefeller and his associ-
ates which will have widespread in
fluence upon the further develop
ment of employees representation in
industry generally throughout the
country. This is nothing less than
to undertake the task which he him.
self predicted would be necessary for
the ultimate development Of employ.