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
