New Haven Evening Register Newspaper Article re Warren L. Mottram

Sunday, Oct. 5, 1952 NEW HAVEN REGISTER, SUN ever won a battle by waiting for is b Wallingford Man Tells Industrialists his opponent to meet him half way. here In America, we would have nev- er made the progress we have M In Belgium Value Of Human Relations made if we waited for the other that fellow to meet us half way." wro Continuing this theme, Mr. Mot- Belj consideration as plants, processes tram told the Belgian industrial- poir W. L. Mottram on U. S. and equipment. "Otherwise, ma- ists: "In America, we like to think firs chines will not do the jobs for of managers as leaders of a team. Wes Team Visiting Plants in which they were intended.' Management's job is to sell the eve suppliers of our material and equip- owe Country Belgian Mistake ment, the owners of the company, her By and large, Mottram declares the workers and our customers on cal Warren L. Mottram, vice presi- Belgian manufacturers show little the need of cooperating with each well dent and industrial relations mana- interest in the thinking and ideol- other. It isn't an easy job, but it mu ger for the R. Wallace & Sons ogy of workers. This, he believes, Manufacturing Co. in Wallingford, is a sad mistake, as the temporary is a man who believes in speaking lack of economic understanding frankly without pulling his punches. among employes leaves them For example, he told a large easy prey to any subversive agent gathering of Belgian industrialists who tries to influence them. in Brussels last June that Belgium As one member of the team ex- could lead the world-if its indus- pressed it: "Imagine men in fac- trial leaders paid full attention to tories working day after day, all the importance of human relations their lives, in one place and never in industry and forgot the old class speaking to or being spoken to by distinction between workers and the boss! The idea of workers hav- management. ing no spirit of co-operation with Basis Of Observation each other. The sad aspect of men Mottram based this observation doing their best only when some on his experiences as a member of WARREN L. MOTTRAM supervisor is watching. Even in the a technical assistance seminar most modern plants, where out- team, composed of five American One feels, however, says Mot- side all is beautifully landscaped businessmen who were in Belgium tram, that Belgium is a country and flowering, and inside where the from May 21 to June 25 this year. living in the present but possess- ORANGE ST. at C superb machinery and immaculate The team was recruited, briefed, ing roots which go deep into the conditions should make working a and directed by the National Man- past. The influence of past events pleasure, men have a sort of sad agement Council, under sponsor- is felt in practically everything appearance, caused, no doubt, from ship of the Productivity and Tech- that's done by businessmen. The wars, occupation and insecurity." nical Assistance Division of the historical events of the past 12 Three Impressions Mutual Security Agency. It was years-including not only the mil- actively assisted in Belgium by itary phases of the war, but, more Mottram said he gained three significantly, the psychological and very strong impressions during Comite National Belge de l'Organ- mental attitudes imprinted by the his five-week tour of Belgium. ization Scientifique, in cooperation The first was that class distinc- / with the M. S. A. Mission to Bel- occupation have somewhere shak- tions will have to be overcome if gium and Luxembourg. en the confidence of Belgian busi- Belgium is to grow to its full po- The objective of the team, ac- nessmen. tentialities. cording to Mottram, was to ex- Class Differences The second impression the Wal- change ideas and information Human relations, in Mottram's lingford industrialist said, is pretty through discussions with Belgian opinion, appears to be the field for much along the same line-simply top management, make sugges- greatest improvement in Belgian that good labor relations cannot be tions as to ways and means of ap- industry. He pointed out, in fact, legislated. You cannot pass a law plying American production and that he was told by Belgians that saying that you should be friends human relations techniques, and the workers treat the owners of the and expect everyone to become more basically, to merchandise the companies as antagonists, that the friends," he pointed out. idea of raising the level of Bel- unions encourage the workers to gian productivity. Mottram's third impression was do this, and that the reason for this that everyone in Belgium is crying Team Members is the class differences which ex- for leadership "and I'm wondering Besides Mottram, the team con- ist. if our leaders are doing all they sisted of Saul M. Silverstein, pres- Mottram pointed out that the can to help them find it." ident of the Rogers Corporation of nature of human relations in Bel- In his final talk to the Belgian Manchester; and three other busi- gium is quite different from that businessmen who met to learn the néssmen from Boston, Thomson, in the United States. Bargaining reactions and impressions of the Ga., and Pittsburgh, Pa. is done largely on an industry-wide members of the American team, The Belgian Technical Assist- basis with little individual worker Mottram touched briefly on this ance Team, as it is called, arrived or local representation. subject. in Belgium on May 21 and spent "It is also considered," Mottram Leadership Wanted five weeks in that country. Ap- proximately one week was devoted says, "that the Belgian worker is "People want leadership," he to orientation in Paris and Brus- a hard worker and is SO considered said. "In America we believe that sels, where the team met with rep- in the eyes of his employers. Where 95 per cent of our people look to resentatives of industry, labor, Bel- he is also considered not as effi- others for leadership. One Belgian gian Government and the M. S. A. told me that in Belgium it is 99 cient as he could be, it is apparent The four following weeks, accord- per cent. Whether is is 95 per cent that his productivity could be in- ing to Mottram, were each spent or 99 per cent, the question for you creased, with no additional expend- in making plant visits and conduct- to decide is do you want to pro- iture of his energy, through the ap- ing three-day conferences with ex- vide the leadership or do you want plication of better human relations ecutive managers of plants in someone else to provide it. The principles." Liege, Ghent, Charleroi and Brus- best way to lead is to lead. Don't sels. A final three days were spent Mottram points out that work- wait for the other fellow to meet in reporting team activities and men must be given just as much you half way. No military leader impressions of those persons who contributed to its original orienta- tion in Brussels, and to the Belgian chairman who had presided at the Grandmother's Day section meetings at their respec- tive cities. Next Sunday is Grand- Exchange Of Ideas mother's Day. Pay tribute The mutual exchange of ideas at to Grandma by giving her a these seminars and meetings was living plant or a bouquet of an exhilirating experience, Mot- fresh cut flowers. McQuig- tram recalls, for both the Ameri- gan's has many selections cans, who were doing most of the to give her lasting pleasure. talking, and for the Belgians, who were doing most of the questioning. In Mottram's opinion, Belgium today is in the position that Ameri- ca was in 22 years ago-in 1930. Mc QUIGCAN FLORIST McQuiggan's But if Belgians are willing to profit by the errors the United States has 154 ORANGE STREET made between 1930 and 1952, he asserts, they can make faster pro- TEL. UN 5-0159 gress in the next few vears than