March 30th, 1911
Mr. F. W. Taylor,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear sir:- Your letter, with copy of Mr. Upton Sinclair's and your answer to same, received, and I assure you that your reply, and kind consideration is appreciated to a degree. Herewith, returned manuscript, as per your request, with my sincere thanks. There is no doubt in my mind as to the sincerity of you and your friends, and we "oxen" perforce, must do obeisance to intelligence and Scientifically acquired knowledge, and as stated in my previous letter, your System must appeal favorably to all fair minded people in so far as it means increased efficiency and the betterment of the first and third class (as noted), the proletariat, but as to how it may be used in an economic sense is a different proposition altogether. Machinery in itself is unquestionably a blessing to mankind but its control and manipulation is the problem of the day, and since both machinery and your System, in great degree displaces labor - or as labor is made to meet further ends by the application of intelligence, Labor should still control the means of Labor's production. But I will not annoy you by attempting to enter into a discussion of the Economic feature of your methods--that would not only be impolite on my part but it would be begging the question--but your methods will undoubtedly meet with success, as they deserve and I shall do all in my power to make them successful but as to what Social use may be made of them can well be left to future developments.
I thank you for your invitation to visit one of your Companies in operation under the improved methods and it may be my pleasure to do so in the not far distant future. Personally, I have had experience as a "deck-hand" in the Perry Buggy Factory, Saeger-maker in a large pottery, and have worked in various capacities in other factories until now I am engaged in the laborious (?) work of acquiring a College Degree (Muskingum College) while at the same
March 30th, 1911
Mr. F. W. Taylor,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dear sir:- Your letter, with copy of Mr. Upton Sinclair's and your answer to same, received, and I assure you that your reply, and kind consideration is appreciated to a degree. Herewith, returned manuscript, as per your request, with my sincere thanks. There is no doubt in my mind as to the sincerity of you and your friends, and we "oxen" perforce, must do obeisance to intelligence and Scientifically acquired knowledge, and as stated in my previous letter, your System must appeal favorably to all fair minded people in so far as it means increased efficiency and the betterment of the first and third class (as noted), the proletariat, but as to how it may be used in an economic sense is a different proposition altogether. Machinery in itself is unquestionably a blessing to mankind but its control and manipulation is the problem of the day, and since both machinery and your System, in great degree displaces labor - or as labor is made to meet further ends by the application of intelligence, Labor should still control the means of Labor's production. But I will not annoy you by attempting to enter into a discussion of the Economic feature of your methods--that would not only be impolite on my part but it would be begging the question--but your methods will undoubtedly meet with success, as they deserve and I shall do all in my power to make them successful but as to what Social use may be made of them can well be left to future developments.
I thank you for your invitation to visit one of your Companies in operation under the improved methods and it may be my pleasure to do so in the not far distant future. Personally, I have had experience as a "deck-hand" in the Perry Buggy Factory, Saeger-maker in a large pottery, and have worked in various capacities in other factories until now I am engaged in the laborious (?) work of acquiring a College Degree (Muskingum College) while at the same