Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-26
FRUITFUL IN SUGGESTION


Remarkable results accomplished
by wisely directed efforts to relieve
housing shortage In congested dis
trlcts Of the big cities, especially In
New York under the management
Of John D. Rockefeller. Jr.. suggest
possibilities not restricted to hous-
ing shortage.
When the elder Rockefeller was
absorbed in building foundations, de-
vising methods and machinery for
producing the huge fortune he ac-
cumulated he had little time for
philanthropic enterprises to which
later he gave munifcently. Now
tho Junior John D. appears I'm
usually disposed as well as equip
PED for such endeavor.
The congested areas Of the big
cities were not calling for aid as
now; the public was not so we'll
educated to the needs of environment
as now; there were instances OF
churches being aided by rents from
unsanitary tenements. This did not
signify that good people were indif-
ferent to the needs of the poor In
deed feelings of sympathy may have
peen warmer in those days, once
aroused, but selfishness was not so
we'll enlightened and means could
not as readily be had. This genera =
ton perceives how closely interde-
pendent are the welfare of a COM
munity and the Welfare of its con-
stituent parts, even the humble ones.
In other words the great metropolis
Is concerned that all its people shall
live under conditions that make for
health and sanity.
Those, who now have undertaken
this great problem of housing re-
lief, have demonstrated that by
means of mass construction, aided
by capital accepting normal instead
of speculative returns being assured
OF safety, all under capable manage
ment, sanitary abodes with modern
conveniences in pleasant surround
ings may be provided at renta Is
within the means of the workers.
indeed in some instances cheaper
than those formerly demanded in
slum neighborhoods.
Manifestly such results encour-
agingly suggest extension of like
methods into wider spheres, even
into activities other than those con-
nected with housing problems. Ones
mind turns to the pleas so often
heard from modern workers for bet
ter management in industry that
would yield the workers greater re-
turns.
1t goes without saying that the
employe Is usually found to be some
what critical of the MANAGEMENT
under which he works. He sees a
definite part Of the enterprise more
clearly, perhaps, than does the en-
ployer. but he often forgets that he
lacks perspective and the compre-
hension from seeing all the parts in
their co-ordinated entirety. Never
theless, when we see how Inadequate
management and capital employed at
greater disadvantage in housing is
found in the light Of recent develop
nents to have been incompetent, one
In encouraged to hope that improve
ments in the management Of GER
tain lines Of business are attainable
by somewhat like methods,
Right now the British coal miners
are declaring that better manage
ment would afford them living
wage and and equal profit to the
owners Lloyd George suggests the
same thing. But George Is q poll
dcian, not an owner of coal mines,
and the miners know little of tho
competition between the deep mined
coal Of England and the cheaply
mined Of Germany. Yet one Is per-
mitted to hope. There was a time
when women, half clad and bowed
with toll. dragged the fruits Of their
mining to the surface and coal
oarons were taking no more of prof,
than has since been secured under
conditions greatly improved for the
worker.
Electrical and certain other dis
eoveries have added innumerably to
the facilities for production. but
Eeener minds are required. perhaps,
TO grasp all the potentialities to
which these are susceptible or
shrewd enough to arrange for their
Prontaole use. The urge Of the age.
however, will gradually adjust INTEL
Hsence to the solution and ac-
cumulation Of capital affords the
means for putting that intelligence
TO work. In those respects the
"orh Is neither standing still nor
slipping backward.