[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—The industrial system is not working smoothly. But how Guildism can be incorporated into present organizations seems insoluble. No doubt Guildism might help with new schemes—if Trade Union rules allowed. Profit-sharing, however, can be adopted in some form in any soundly capitalized concern. But then Capitalism and Trades Union- ism must needs both be reasonable.
In an experience of thirty-five years of profit-sharing I have not found Labour demanding any share in management. Sharing profits contents it. Nor will Capital be content nowadays, as the writer of your article assumes, with 5 per cent. return on business involving any risk. The " widow and the fatherless," who to a large extent depend on industrial investments, cannot buy groceries any cheaper than the working man. The working man requires more wages, and gets them, than in pre-War days. Capital is exactly in the same position. It is scarcer and cannot be saved easily with taxes, rates and general living so high.
If, as theorists declare, the working man desires a share in the management, the thing is easy. The highly capitalized co-operative societies have broken the ground. Let him take to guild or any other trading with a portion of his Union funds. It would be less risk than some the Unions take now. There are capable men among them to direct, and then, the whole 'profits being theirs and the Unions', the men may work. The privately owned workshops will, with the success of Guildism, wither away, just a little faster than now:
But, candidly, I doubt if the working man does want a share in management. He wants more and more money. A little practical experience in bossing and working combined, as suggested, would show if the extra money can be made. I am a hardened profit-sharer ; I believe in it. But I believe in a flexible system. Every concern to create its own system. The system I kmow best is admittedly not scientific and needed no lawyer to: draft it. But it works and no troublesome disputes are possible. So far it has been proven law-proof. Profit-sharing is all right given a fair show. " Managing Director " refers to J. T. and J. Taylor's plan very properly. It is the best I know of, and it has worked for over thirty years. Mr. Taylor is an inspiring man. He has both vision and good will. Should you print this, I desire no advertisement, so subscribe myself, Sir, yours, &c., A. B. C. [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Previous page
