A lesson from Henry Ford
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Editor,
What we need is another Henry Ford. Someone who realizes that allowing working folks to earn more than subsistence wages benefits the entire country. Henry didn't send his production out of the country to maximize his profits. He was smart enough to know that if his employees wound up with an extra dollar or two, that would enable them to purchase his automobiles.
His historic decision to offer $5 a day when the average pay was $2.34 a day brought dismay to many industrialists. In addition, he lowered the work day to eight hours instead of the nine-hour day that prevailed at that time.
Henry's bold move paid big dividends. Within two years, the profits of Ford Motor doubled. The increased wages rewarded Ford by attracting inspired workers who increased production and decreased turnover. That allowed Ford to lower the price of his automobiles, and in turn that led to increased sales as Fords became more affordable to the public.
Peter Daniels
Polson
