Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/60

 46 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The plan, we are told, was accepted by the employes in a half-hearted way. and without any belief on their part that it would be of material benefit to them. At the end of the first six months, however, a dividend of 13.47 per cent, on wages was declared, the highest bonus received by one person being $275. A second dividend of 11.8 per cent, was declared in April 1888, and in October a third dividend of 9.35 per cent. The effect of these dividends was not what might have been expected. They were received by the employes almost as a matter of course ; the distribution being followed by a slight increase of the interest of the employes in their work, which soon dropped back into indifference. In April 1890, we find a member of the firm, in the semi-annual address to the employes, urging upon them more careful, diligent, and intelligent work, and saying "each speaker has urged the matter, but with so little effect upon some of our workmen that it became apparent that not only was injustice being done to the firm, who were getting no returns from these careless ones, but also that the girls and men who did try to prevent waste and to do better work, and to uphold the interest of the business were being unfairly treated by receiving no greater reward than those careless, indifferent and wasteful ones who were equally entitled to a share, if only they had been employed long enough." To break up this indifference the company decided to make free use of its right to deprive the indifferent of a share in the dividend. Consequently, in October 1889, the employes were divided into four classes as follows : (i) Those who showed unmistakable signs of their appreciation of the fact that it was incumbent upon them to help make the profits. These were paid double the regular dividend. (2) Those receiving the regular dividend ; including the bulk of the employes. (3) Those who did not evince much interest in the plan and whose dividend was one-half of the regular amount. (4) Those who were cut out of any dividend whatever. Whether as a result of this classification or not, the dividend of April 1890 rose to 15.57 per cent, on wages. At all events, careless- ness on the part of the employes grew less and less until it could