MAbJAGEMENT
INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS JAMES W. IRWIN*
Industry has overlooked the two most potent molders of public opinion in its efforts to build good community relations—the clergy and the teachers EMBERS of
the
AMERICAN CHEMICAL
SOCIETY, at their meetings next spring in Buffalo and next fall in Atlantic City, will discuss methods to project the im-portance of the chemist and chemistry into the thinking of groups in the communities of America. That the "crossroads" as well as the major population centers of the nation mmst be told more about industry, if they are expected to approve of industry's policies of operation is something counsellors in the fields of employee and public relations have long known. Two groups of influence-molders have been found to stand out far over the other groups. These are the clergy and the teachers. As management staffs moved, at full steam into fall activities two excellent guides were placed in their hands to help them in their contacts with the church and the school. The one dealing with our educational system is an extraordinary analysis of educational and industrial cooperation made by the public relations counselling organization of Hill and Knowlton, Inc., NewYork, which serves the Manufacturing Chemists' Association, the American Iron and Steel Institute and the Aircraft Industries Association. What Clergymen Think of Industry The study dealing with the clergy is another remarkable document emanating from the Princeton laboratory of the Public Opinion Index for Industry, in which many companies in our industry join with leaders in other industries to support important and continuing research. That the clergy is operating somewhat in the dark relative to industry's situation is revealed by the showings of the clergy. high school teachers, high school seniors, and foremen and supervisors in manufacturing on a 61-question economics quiz. High school teachers scored 64% accurate, against 62% for industrial supervision, 48r/c for high school seniors and 599c for clergymen. More than 70% of the clergymen fell down on their knowledge of the workers' share of the company dollar, the size of industry's profits, and the rise in workers' real earnings. That there is hope for a clearer understanding on the part of clergymen is disclosed by the 84% who said it is a part of their job to discuss moral and ethical aspects of economic issues, while 69% said they believe they should discuss the moral and ethical aspects of political issues as well. Even though many clergymen have been 4320
critical of industry and business, generally speaking, the Robinson research shows that only 6% believe business leadcis can most readily improve in observing moral standards* while 3 1 % think the greatest improvement can corne from government leaders, and 1 1 % from union leaders. Significant, though, is the 50% who believe all of them can improve. Industry really has booted the ball in its communication channels to the clergy; it is shown by an analysis of the sources of information on which clergymen rely. A trifling 1% credit business and industry sources with providing them information. Where are the industrial, community, and public relations men of industry? On the constructive side 92% of the clergymen believe the concept of profit is consistent with Christian ideals and 85% challenge the philosophy that money paid to investors as dividends is a burden on workers. Likewise, an ovei^vhelming 8 1 % believe competition and not price control is the best regulator in normal times. The hot subject of government ownership of basic industries such as electric utilities, railroads, oil, steel, automotive, and banks finds 79% opposed to nationalization. This also is supported by an 88% feeling that government ownership in Great Britain has restricted personal freedoms. The clergy, in general, thinks in terms of people, C. E. Robinson of Public Opinion Index reports, rather than in terms of capital growth, financial stability and risk-taking. Frank C. Lyons, in charge of public, community, and employee relations for a number of divisions of General Motors, with a force totaling better than 50,000 employees, has worked closely with the clergy in his plant cities for some 15 years. His experiences have proved beyond question that clergymen of all faiths are interested in seeing how industry functions and will devote time from their busy schedules to make first-hand studies within the plants themselves and in discussions with top men of management. Lyons, a Sunday school superintendent in a Dayton, Ohio, church for nearly 20 years, and Mason M. Roberts, also a Sunday school superintendent who is vice president of GM in charge of Frigidaire division, finds the daily work with members of the clergy absorbing. Industry and the Schoo!
