Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 2.djvu/70

56 the profits. He shares no losses. He has the advantage connected with the pension fund, of free medical assistance and of the other incidental features of the plan which have been mentioned. The economic benefits are not greater than the moral and intellectual. He is schooled in thrift and economy. As was said by a member of the firm, in an address to the employés, "It is an advantage to men to be schooled even though a little unwillingly in habits of attention, carefulness, economy, diligence and social helpfulness. These form character, which becomes to a man capital. By this, he becomes a good workman and may always command a preference at least, and such men succeed where others fail." The benefits of this schooling has been clearly shown from year to year. The effect of the early dividends, for instance, was noticeable only for a short time after the distribution. While they were fresh in everyone's memory work was better and more skillfully done. Now the interest continues throughout the year. To encourage this interest various methods are employed. The following will serve as an illustration: In passing from room to room the writer's attention was attracted by printed placards containing directions and admonitions, of which the following are samples. "See that your time is fully occupied." "If you can't waste anything else you can waste time." "Do not become mere machines; give your work some thought and try to suggest some better means of doing it." "Try to be the best workmen in your department. It will pay." "A little waste every day would make a rich man poor." "The man who is careless and wasteful robs not only himself but also his fellow laborer." "The amount of the dividend depends on what you save." "Interest in your work makes your day's labor short and your dividend large." These placards serve as constant reminders to the laborer that he is not a mere productive machine, but a co-partner, though in a restricted