Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-08-11
AWAKENING TO THE HUMAN
EQUATION

New England, wien one could hire
a neighbor to work, could receive
advice and suggestion from the en-
ploye, and they could sit at table
together and no one so foolish as to
question the propriety Of so doing.
Under such formative conditions
New Englanders received some of the
equipment with which they have
accomplished so much in this coun-
try.
In recent article Secretary of La
Dor Davis, arguing for retention Of
high wages as the essential to pros
perity and the prop to our consuming
capacity without which we would
lack good times, does not attempt
to overlook the competition which
this country cannot avoid with coun-
tries where lower wages prevail and
are likely TO continue on a lower
level.
Once we were told that with higher
wages, shorter hours and more in
tensive application by the worker we
would so secure created output
This has not been demonstrated in
practice. though there has been
evidence Of possibility within reason.
notwithstanding the effort of some
leaders to curtail the productive
capacity, TO set the pace for all ac-
cording to the slowest unit. The
9VS$
in the degree that was promised.
Now it is seen that we need some
other assurances Of ability to COM
nand a high grade OF living for our
workers, also the markets for our
products in the face OF those produc-
ing more cheaply. How may we
produce more cheaply and retain all
our advantages? Here comes the
question whether We are making
full use of all our facilities. Assum-
ing that ,abor will recognize the need
of enlarged capacity for production
per worker, that this will incline
in some degree the balance in our
favor, what next may we turn to
for assistance? Secretary Davis sees
that we are not taking advantage of
the intelligence of our workers in the
way of suggestion out of their ex-
periences, out OF their more intimate
production knowledge Of the pro-
cesses and of the raw material pro-
cessed, OF the waste that escapes the
notice of the manager.
How may the employer come to
understanding of this, comprehend
the wisdom which should be found in
the employees knowledge OF things
and how may the employe be induced
to enter into this co partnership In
productive capacity through CO.
operation? The employer is awaking
to the importance Of the human
equation. The sooner this may be
said of the employee the better. To
both OF these we would commend an
excerpt from a recent address OF
Arthur T. Morey, general manager
Of the Commonwealth Steel Com
pany:
Speaking Of officials and foremen
and our mental attitude toward our
work, the law and our country, we
need constantly to remind ourselves
Of who and what our workmen are
AS a lawyer, l well know Of the old
relation of master and servant be-
tween employer and employee, but
here at the Commonwealth, / feel
that we have met on a higher plane
as co-operators and friends. These
three thousand men OF whom you are
the leaders ere not 'co-laborers with
the horse and the OK and machines,
but are men as we are men. with
minds and feelings and aspirations.
As said before, we do not employ
bodies, but we employ the minds of
our men; their good will, their spirit
Of effort and endeavor to progress.
II we consider just physical bodies,
O man Is only one-seventh as phys
ically capable as q horse. On that
basis. 1t takes seven men to equal
one horse, so II we wanted Just
physical bodies we would employ
horses and not men. But men have
minds. There is a spirit in man and
we have to consider that spirit; to
study how to treat men az brothers,
Christians and Americans; to find
and stimulate those deeper and big
ger values in men as men, and for
this great work, q high class Of
leadership Is necessary"