BRANDEIS ON BUSINESS—IN HIS OWN WORDS
consistent with what may be termed human truths. Is
America to prove that as we have in the political world
the greater productivity attained clearly consistent
shown what self-government can do, we are to pursue
with the health of the body, the mind, and the soul of
the same lines in the industrial world.
the worker? Is it consistent with industrial freedom? Is it consistent with greater joy in work, and generally in living? These are questions which must be answered in the affirmative, and to the satisfaction, not of a few merely, but of the majority of those to be affected.
The Curse of Bigness, Industrial Democracy and Efficiency, Industrial Co-operation, p. 35 Must not this mean that the American who is brought up with the idea of political liberty must surrender
Business—A Profession,
what every citizen deems far more important, his
Efficiency by Consent, pp. 54-55
industrial liberty? Can this contradiction—our grand political liberty and this industrial slavery—long
The great developer is responsibility. Hence no remedy
coexist? Either political liberty will be extinguished or
can be hopeful which does not devolve upon the workers
industrial liberty must be restored.
participation in responsibility for the conduct of business; and their aim should be the eventual assumption of full responsibility—as in co-operative enterprises. This participation in and eventual control of industry is likewise an essential of obtaining justice in distributing the fruits of industry.
The Curse of Bigness, Industrial Democracy and Efficiency, Big Business and Industrial Liberty, p. 39 So much for the past: what shall the future be? What should you do to make it an era of peace and prosperity? The answer involves a discussion of certain broad prin-
The Curse of Bigness,
ciples which, in my opinion, should govern the relations
Letter to Robert W. Bruere, p. 270
of employer and employee in all branches of industry, though in their application they would, like every rule, be
In my judgment, we are going through the following
subject to exceptions more or less temporary, dependent
stages: We already have had industrial despotism. With
upon the peculiar facts of the individual case.
the recognition of the unions, this is changing into a constitutional monarchy, with well defined limitations placed about the employer’s former autocratic power. Next comes profit sharing. This, however, is to be only a transitional, half-way stage. Following upon it will come the sharing of responsibility, as well as of profits. The eventual outcome promises to be full grown industrial democracy. As to this last step the Socialists have furnished us with an ideal full of suggestion.
First. Prolonged peace and prosperity can rest only upon the foundation of industrial liberty. The peace which employers should seek is not the peace of fifty years ago, when the employers were absolute masters of the situation. The peace which the employees should seek is not the peace of mediæval guilds, with their numberless restrictions. Industrial liberty must attend political liberty. The lead which America takes in the industrial world is no doubt due to our unbounded resources; but of these resources none are so great as
The Curse of Bigness, Industrial Democracy and
the spirit and the ability incident to a free people. We
Efficiency, How Far Have We Come on the Road to
lead the world industrially, not so much because the
Industrial Democracy?—An Interview, p. 47
resources of nature are unbounded, as because the faculties and aspirations of men are comparatively
The civilized world today believes that in the industrial
unfettered. The prosperity of New England—this poor
world self-government is impossible; that we must
rich country—is ample evidence of this. We must have,
adhere to the system which we have known as
therefore, for the development of our industries, as for
the monarchical system, the system of master and
the development of our citizens, the highest degree of
servant, or, as now more politely called, employer and
liberty attainable. Industrial democracy should ultimately
employee. It rests with this century and perhaps with
attend political democracy...
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