The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-09-16
Order Versus Force.

Order is an Invisible power, 10 whom
men yield almost spontaneous obedience
while force creates autagonism. Order
moves to determiuato ends with silent
oilicloucy that is marvellous 10 its combin.
alton Of inhsrmonious things; force on
the other hand souds disturbing and an
opposing Gle neut ipto all the agencies it
seeks to control. Aud yet, whero one
man depends on order for the accomplish.
ment of his purposes, three work, made.
quatcly, by force. So it has been and so
it will continue to bo until men learn to
act from deliberate thought, and not from
impulse
A notable illustration Of this difference
between order and force occurred in one
OF our large manufacturing establish.
montS, where over two hundred men are
employed. These men wero under the
superntcudenco Of a foreman Of the mar.
tinot species-au active, restless, driving
little man, who was always flying about
among them, aud giving his orders in a
short, imperative way, that annoyed
where it did not hurt or offend. Such
men oro rarely able to create a system in
which number Of persons may be com.
blned 10 harmonious action. Their
thought 10 not calm enough they see
not only iuto narrow circle, but SEQ
things from every shifting stand point.
Io day one thing is msguided into an
overshadowing importance, aud to- morrow
another thing. Ono rule is declared as
imperative this week, aud next week an.
other. There is stringent cxertion un.
der tho declared rule Of the day, and to-
morrow its violations pass unnoticcd.
Iu the case TO which we have referred
all respect for the foreman had ceased
though service was exscted through an
ever pressing force. exercised with the
natural Accomplishments of disorder and
iuadequacy. Tho owners OF this estab
ishment had for some time seen the evils
OF which we have spoken, aud on several
occasions pointed out to their foreman
the lack OF order aud efficiency in the
shops In every instance tho result of
such Information on the part Of the own.
ors vas new and more Offensive appli.
cation Of the law OF force, resulting n
conflicts with sensitive or badly disposed
worl.meu, and the discharge of hands
whose superior ekill the establishment
needed. At last in one Of the foreman +
o.ioTts 90 put thiugs right" he throw
/ tho whole hive oi worknen into an angry
sqarn about his ears. TIE occasion gave
q taig opportunity io7 the choice of a
successor,
The Eew man--selccted with not few
misgiTings on the part Of the owners
did not, 70 lar as tho owners we're con.
cerned, give much promise of efficiency,
but he came so well recommended that
it was deemed right to make a trial of
his ability. ilc had very quiet. almost
heavy exterior; With pair of eyes SO
calm and chaugoless in their expression
that they gave no sigL Of his passing
thoughts. His speech WAS slow; bul
when his words had adjusted themselves
into A sentence they had meaning likely
to be remembered At first he appeared
to be weak man, hut as you talked with
him this impression gradually diminished
Ga lho fir, day Of his administration
tho new foreman spcut nearly the whole
,imc in 2ciog through tho shops, accom-
panied by one Of the proprietora, ex.
aminiug the tools and machinery
the work III hand, tho methods adopted
10 order to reach tho most economioa
results, and in observation Of tho men
In person and manner he was SO dfforent
ircm the old foreman that every one re
marked tho contract. Used TO the law
Of force and not anticipating the exercise
of any other law, he seemed weakline
in tho eyes Of most Of the workmen.
What do you think of him ?" whis
perod John Burke, one Of tho most wilfu
and un:uly persons in the establishment
addressing tho man alongside of him
"a chicken - was tho contemptuout
answer.
, "I'll give him a week in the shops
, not day over" said Burke.
1--WE must finish him 10 three days"
The foreman crossed the room at thi,
moment, and stood at tho bench wher,
Burke was employed.
= May 1 lcok at that 2" ho said, reach
ing his haad for the article on which tn,
man WAS at work. He spoke mildly. anC
in the tone Of one asking Il favor. Bu
the article was not yielded ut his request
a sullen pretence that it would be il
danger OF being injured 10 tho state i
: happened to be, if it eft his hands, wa
: grualy made.
Its Of no consequence" answered tn
1 foreman, without a sign of feeling in hi
: voice, Il see what it is." Then, Will
yet standing alongside of Burke, ho re
= marked to tho principal who was wit
+ + him, There is quicker way OF accom-
9 plishiug tho same result"
"Ah'' queried tho principal
!, Yes, | will show it 10 you when W
go down to tho Office 1t will save tel
per cent. in ,iue and material. apd qiy
: uoater article
You must introduce the improves
method" said the principal, as they nov
cd av,U from fLa h,uch toharo n,.L