Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-05-19
W Mere Machines."

1T is said OF the late MIR. Stewart that he
was strict disciplinarian in administer
ing the affairs of his establishments; but
few know, perhaps, how rigid his rules
were. II is obvious that his extensive
business could not have been successfully
conducted without thorough method and
discipline; but rules may be veXatious
| and even capricious; they may arbitrarily
interfere with the necessary freedom Of the
individuals; they may be the means of
substituting mechanism for zeal, and by
their excess defeat their proposed ends.
If we are not misinformed, Mr.. Stewart
erred in this way. His regulations. as
described to us, were severe, humiliating,
and calculated TO make every man of
spirit chafe under them.
An anecdote is given that upon one oc-
casion Mr.. Stewart pointed to his long ar
ray of counters with their many clerks,
anC said: "All these men are only so
many machines; they are permitted no
discretion; they simply obey orders"
The sagaciQus Mr.. Stewart was wrong.
1t was quite necessary for orders to be
issued that would govern the general
policy of the business; but the notion
! that individual talent or discretion
had no scope for action could only have
arisen with one who was too willing to
subordinate his employees, too prone to as
sumo that all the brains and all the direc
tion rested solely in his own hands, thus
| 1lattcring his arbitrary instincts with a
self-applauding theory. The fact that
salesman has no discretion as to price-.is
forbidden to sell at any other sum than the
one given him--does not extiuguish all exer-
else of judgment There is such thing
as willing compliance as well as surly
compliance; a salesman whose heart is in
his work is assuredly more successful
than he who acts with the GOODNESS and
indifference of a machine. And then an
instructed salesman has information to
give it is in his power to suggest to
hint, to show taste and discrimination, to
aid the uncertain judgment. He may os-
tablish cordial relations with customers,
or, on the other hand, he may disgust and
drive them to other shops. Mr.. Stewart
could not have been Ignorant of these
facts, and hence we can only see in his dis
position to dcpreciate his subordinates an
unjust impulse to exalt his own achieve
ments at the expense of those who were
serving him.
There are reasons why we are moved to
combat the notion that men ought TO be
mere machines, or can be mere machines,
under any circumstances outside of the
army. Order, method and subordination
are llulsJcDSuDlb Ill All dlldQS Vi lllcs UuI
intelligence and zeal are also great forces
in all affairs of life; and it would seem as
if high wisdom would make use of
them. We admire the rider who appeals
to the affectionate zeal of his horse rather
than him who trusts solely to the whip
and assuredly we should be not less con-
siderate with cur human servants. 1t is
often found that the best instincts of men
are stimulated by trusting them, by Civ
ing them responsibilities, by acting as il
they were men and not machines. The
head of an extensive house painting es-
tablishment in Paris-as related by John
Stuart Mill-gained in profit and in the
efficiency of his work by making his men
co-workers with himself, by acting upon
their zeal, awakening their pride, and
sharing with them the results of theiI
labors.
The theory that men are no more than
machines whose sole mission is to obey, is
feudal notion, and comes to us from the
arbitrary governments of Europe. 1t can
only be true Of people so long trained in
this rule that they have lost the power tC
act with Independent judgment; it may
suit those born with an inherited idea OF
their own inferiority, but is opposed tC
f the genius of a people like ours, possessed
with a spirit of independence, capable o.
q acting 1Of themselves, required even by
the nature of our institutions to exercise
discretionary judgment--men whos'
whole training teaches them to have will
opinion, discrimination, not after those o
other men, but in accordance with theil
own preferences. Capable men Of this ma
ture cannot be made machines; and hence
Mr.. Stewards policy simply by inevitable
law threw out of his employment the bet
ter class of men, and compelled him to ust
inferior material 1t is probably quite
true, as we often hear it said, that oul
young people are not well trained-they
need lessons in subordinatiOn. But W,
5 are considering only that absolute surren
! der of personal freedom the practical effec
| of which must be to extinguish self-re
spect, personal dignity and manhood. W.
submit it would be better that the Ameri
, can people should maintain their spirit o
) indepcnence-the ancient habit of no
l being machines-even ifas a result of thii
national characteristic it should prove i'm
/ practicable to conduct colossal bazars o.
: kindred establishments.-AppietOn's Jour
nat