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I42
METHODS OF SOCIAL REFORM
whose whole energies and interests are bonnd up in the
succes8 of their management, and who are at the same timo
nqrestrictsd by any power of interference on the part of those
employed or of shareholders. They can thus act with all thc
freedom, secrecy, and despatch of private enterprise; and yet
they carry with them the interegt and sympathy of all they
govern. They haw all the advantages of true leaders of
their men. It is well understood that a successful military
lender must bo perfectly unfettered in judgment and supreme
in executive power; and yet he must manage to earn the
confidence and devotion of his men. It is to a position
resambling this that the Messrs. Briggs seem to me to have
raisod thernsclvos by the courageous ndoption of a true principle,
and I do believo that when their example is followed, our
works and factories will become so many united and wellorganised
regiments of labourers. Good leaders will seek good
men, and good men in return will seek and attach themselves
to good leaders. We shall have an honourable rivalry between
one firm and another, aa to which shall get the best men and
pay tho best dividends.
But it is evident thnt the partnership principlo is not
equally applicable to all trades. Those kinds of manufacture
where the expenditure is to a largo extent paid in wages and
by time, and mhero n large number of men are employed in
A manner not allowing of any rigid test or superintendence
of their work, will derive most advantage from it. Where a
large amount of fixed capital is required, so thnt the expenditure
on wages is less considerable, the advantage will not be
so marked, unless indeed the fixed capital be in the form
of machines or other property which can be readily injured by
careless use.
The ndoption of the principle, again, is of less importance
where the work is paid for by the piece or by contract, as, for
instance, in the Welsh slnte quarries. In this case, however,
a special form of co-operation has already been employed for
a length of time, and attention has been called to the good