CONFLICT AND RECONSTRUCTION 75 
without making any significant loss, even on the present 
sluggish market. This may be a prudent, self-protecting 
course, but it is no contribution to a just settlement of the 
industrial problem; because it leaves Labor discontented and 
Capital insecure. 
There is another great change going on in thousands of 
places scattered all over the country, namely, the acceptance 
by employers of the method of cooperative management, the 
method which, if it is carried out thoroughly, involves teach- 
ing representatives of the employees all about the business 
in which they are concerned. It does not involve any diminu- 
tion of authority in the management; but it does involve 
greater knowledge of the business in superintendents, fore- 
men, and the rank and file. And this, to my thinking, is one 
of the most promising of the present industrial phenomena, 
likely to lead to a wholesome evolution in the conduct of 
American industries and, by and by, in the conduct of the 
industries of other nations; because when employees are 
persuaded that they are partners with the employer, that the 
plant is theirs in a true sense, and that it is for their interest 
to make it as profitable as possible by stopping wastes, effect- 
ing economies, and improving discipline, the gain is so enor- 
mous that no nation which does not adopt cooperative man- 
agement will be able to compete with us. The duty of the 
hour is to get cooperative management in operation in as 
many single plants, or unified groups of plants, as possible all 
over the country—in combination wherever practicable with 
some form of profit-sharing, and always with preventive 
medicine, sanitation, wholesome family life, and school and 
play facilities. Every successful effort in this direction should 
be published far and wide, by advertisement if free insertion 
is denied. 
The employers of this country now have it in their power 
to take a long step forward toward sound industrial relations. 
[f they have the intelligence and the good will, they can put 
American industry in a masterly position in the competition 
of the world. Now you know that competition with the