The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-10
Economic Organization.

Charles r. Flint, one Of the centu-
rvs master organizers, gives to the
current number of the Cosmopolitan
an analysis of economic organization.
The compact. strong, yet frictionless
combination of his sentences makes
his article a striking Illustration OF
his own definition of organization, viz,
the bringing together of interdepend-
ent parts into a single whole so that
they work together with the least pos
sible friction and accomplish the rea-
son of their existence without waste
and without strain.
The sentence exactly describes his
own dictfon. He has defined and meas
ured the value of economic organiZa-
ton without the waste of a single
word or the strain of a single figure.
He compliments his definition of eco
nomic organization with this analogy:
THE most perfect Illustration of or
ganization," he says, lis afforded by
the biologic life of man, where,
through the simple law of growth the
homogeneous and incoherent elements
finally develop into heterogeneous,
but coherent organism controlled by
the will. The result is the perfect ami
NAL, every one of whose organs is
dependent upon every other, each one
Of which is quite distinct from the
other, but not one of which can act
without relation or reference to the
other"
Applying this analogy to industrial
development, he refers to the Virginia
flour merchant of 100 years ago, who,
upon information three months OLD,
would charter little vessel and send
a cargo of flour to Brazil upon
venture" There was no organiza-
ton; he did not know in what condl-
ton the Brazilian market would be
when his ship reached it, nor in what
condition the home market would be
when his ship came back with it's load
of coffee But steam and electricity
have now made economic organization
possible-have made it superb TACT.
The merchant no longer sends his car
go on a venture" He SENDS II WIFI
a small but sure profit, not only to
himself but to consumerS-1or ne
sends where and when there is de-
mand.
ut is not an unusual thing says the
writer for ccal to be bought in Llv-
erpool or Wales to be taken thence TO
California by a vessel which at that
time may be in Australia, the 1nsur-
ance upon which may oe covered IN
New Zealand company-the entire
transaction of which is done by means
of the wire within twenty-four hours.
This is all the result Of what may De
spoken of as the universal orSanlza-
tion of business, which has been
wrought out slowly, but surely by
improved methods of transportation
and business.
Keeping to the logic of facts Mr. Fhnt
points out that the inseparable correl-
ative of the great division OF labor OF
economic differentiation is centrallza-
ton or combination. This division Oh
! labor or specialization with the con-
| conitant Capitalization of capital nave
resulted in making possible the per-
| fcrmance by private corporations or
| work which was impossible to the
| strongest government $50 years ago.
Furthermore this organization has re-
duced waste and friction, has increased
productiveness and raised the average
| wage until today" says Mr. Flint. the
workman gets more for his money ana
mere money for his work than ever
before The destruction or dis
irtegration of large corporate capitals
would compel a return to the era or
| lower wages and higher prices.
The analysis is concluded with the
significant remark that the reason why
private corporations have been so sue
| cessful in business enterprises, While
the state has so singularly failed, is
that in the private corporation abili-
ties and not numbers count.