Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 3.djvu/744

 730 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

ism, but also for the light it throws upon many current indus- trial phenomena.

Recent years have witnessed many efforts for the ameliora- tion of the evils incident to our present industrial system, many of them most systematically and minutely elaborated; so that by all a priori reasoning they should succeed. Success has been attained in many instances, and too much cannot be said in support of such efforts. But, despite such successes, numer- ous as they may be, it must be acknowledged that the great majority of such efforts have been failures. Many causes have been assigned for these failures, but without doubt Mr. Spencer has assigned the fundamental one. Now, while there are many evils connected with industrial conditions, it is grati- fying to all, save those desirous of immediate and revolutionary changes, to note that conditions in the main are tolerable ; in some cases eminently satisfactory, even though no "system "or elaborated plan has been adopted. In fact, both to the employes and to disinterested observers, industrial relations in many such institutions seem to be more satisfactory than in many estab- lishments that have adopted highly approved plans for the bet- terment of such relations. In other words, a poor plan worked by an employer who has the welfare of his employes in mind is much superior to a good "system" worked by an employer guided only by "economic laws" in seeking his own profit. While much evil is inherent in the system, much is inherent in the men who operate the system ; and for this latter they, and not the system, are responsible.

Many employers allege as a reason for not bettering their industrial relations the impracticability of the many panaceas recommended, or of any industrial system save the present one. Such allegations may be refuted by two arguments : first, by calling attention to such more or less ideal schemes that have succeeded, and, second, by adducing as evidence the condition in some establishments operated according to customary method, modified only by such slight changes as justice and a realization of a common humanity would induce. The present article is an illustration of the latter argument.