Newark post., 1915-12-15
individuality In Industry

D, hDOCLL u. HOA-f %AI-~@ -
spoke in the Oratory on "lndl-
viduality in Industry"
The speaker endeayored to point
out a practical method OF applying
to industrial life the fundamental
principle that individuality is
necessary complement Of all ere
ative activity.
He began by first showing some
of the defects Of the present IN
dustrial organizations especially
the larger corporations), pointing
out briefly the forces which COM
bine to produce these conditions
There were some few construc-
tive suggestions in the first part
of his address, inserted, however,
merely to emphasize the weakness
Of the present system.
The second part Of the address
was entirely constructive in ma
ture and was an attempt to denne
what is meant by individuality. IN
order to do this, the author uses
as his illustration the highest
known development Of indlvIduaI-
ity on this planet, namely, the hu-
man body, and made an analysis
of the various elements which en-
ter into relationship with each
other to produce the unity from
which the personality emerges.
Quite naturally description OF
the human nervous system must
be given in order to show the con-
trolling mechanism through which
the individual directs his actIvI-
ties. This was done
1st. By showing analytically
that every movement Of the ply
sical body is controlled through
the nervous system.
I'd. Continuing the analysis by
describing the three great dlvl-
sions of the nervous system, and
Sd. By a synthetic argument
which indicates the wonderful
grouping of the nerves into one
great system in which each part
performs it's own peculiar func-
ton illustrating the highest type
of specialization but with con-
slant relationship to the good Of
the whole.
After pointing out that human
progress has been made possible
only through the development OF
the nervous system, with its con-
sequent unifying and memortzing
powers, the author indicated the
necessity Of establishing a similar
system in industrial organizations.
He pointed out that the reason for
this conclusion is obvious, when 1t
is recognized that any organiza-
ton must make progress as a unit
and unless this unity can be es-
tabIished and perfected progress
in the development Of the parttcu-
lar art it represents will be ex-
tremely slow.
In other words, the organiza-
ton as a whole must develop into
a conscious individuality, capable
of specializing the generic laws
which it is using in order to turn
out the finished product.
1t is not enough for each indi-
vidual in the plant to act in this
conscious manner, for unless
these individual activities are all
guided in one resultant direction,
which is toward the perfection of
the plant output, there can be no
great improvement in the methods
used and there is little hope of in
creasiug the efficiency Of opera
tion.
Finally the speaker pointed out
how the only real method Of de-
veloping plant unity is in paying
the greatest amount Of attention
to the development of the person
ality of the individuals making UP
the organization; stimulating
them to creative efforts, by allow
ing freedom of choice and action
and an opportunity to express, in
the direction best suited to their
natural fitness, what they most
enjoy doing.
This naturally implies an edu-
cational system built upon the
broadest lines and calling for a
high grade Of intelligent leader
ship throughout. This being pro-
vided, there will be no trouble in
securing respectful attention from
those receiving instruction.
1t is the unifcation of all these
forces, however, to give individ,
uality to the organization, that
was the main theme of the ad.
dress; and he pointed out a prac.
tical method by which the prin-
oir1as orrrIiuaI can ba ap01iaS -