EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION 
CONTACT AND CONFERENCE 
A textual analysis of the various plans of employee representation 
in the United States would not warrant the conclusion that all of 
these objectives apply in the case of every plan. The first is proba- 
bly the most general, for it may be said that every plan aims to pro- 
vide at least a medium for contact and conference between employees 
and employers. There are some which apparently go no further. 
The following notice posted on the bulletin boards of one concern 
in January, 1919, would seem to indicate such a limited conception 
as to the purpose of employee representation: 
Following out the established principles of this Company, the Management 
feels that a means should be provided whereby the more important matters which 
affect employees in general should have mutual discussion prior to the final deci- 
sion by the management. 
As there is no regularly constituted medium for discussion of this kind, it has 
been decided to ask the check employees of the. . . . . Plant to elect repre- 
sentatives as herein indicated, who can be called together to meet the manage- 
ment as occasion may arise. 
Similarly another company expressed the object of its plan as 
follows: 
The object of this plan shall be to promote a more general social and codpera- 
tive feeling among the various employees of the . . . . Plant, to the end that 
these employees may enjoy from time to time the results obtained by having a 
representation in any discussion of all matters appertaining to all conditions affect- 
ing the workmen at . . . . Plant. 
A proper representation plan makes it possible to enlighten employees at 
least to the extent of their knowledge of conditions of trade that affect them 
personally such as the competition existing in certain lines and certain localities 
and its effect on plant operations, it should also result in enlightening the manage- 
ment at first hand as to the nature and proper desires of the workmen. 
The purpose uppermost in the minds of those who inaugurated 
these plans and a few others was apparently to convey to workers 
more directly than by means of posted notices the intentions of the 
management in its relations with employees, and to establish sufficient 
contact with them to learn in advance of any incipient grievance 
so that strikes or other damaging results might be forestalled. This 
objective was probably taken for granted by those companies which 
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