New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-07-30
WHAT DOES BUSINESS WANT? THE ANSWER OF
NATIONAL, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

fence and defence and the Huns VIII
overrun our markets.
efficiency, | know, has grown 20 be
a common word, and, possibly, all OBJ
iectionable word, in our vocabulary.
Il has been worked to death, | suppose,
in many instances. Yet its meaning,
in the broadest and best sense, should
be understood and respected by all
classes of people. Efficiency, unemo-
tional. precise and persistent, | think,
is to rule the world in the future. The
slap-dash nation will have hard road
TO travel.
"An army cannot be gathered at ran
dom from the streets and successfully
sent against an enemy. There must
first be months and even years of hard
training. Nor should we expect that
the tens of thousands OF simless boys
who are leaving our grammar schools
and high schools every summer can be
used by society advantageously unless
they are properly prepared and d.
rected.
$50 our efficiency should have a
beginning early in the lives of our
children-in the home and at school.
The National Chamber of Commerce
by a vote of S31 TO 100 in its constit-
uent bodies, taken in forty-two states,
has recently recommended that liberal
Federal appropriations be voted for the
promotion of vocational education
throughout the country.
Ready for the Firing Line.
"The farmer is being informed about
his soils and instructed how and when
TO plant He is told, further, where to
ie 60 4 Il. ~
tiers are being taught how to cook, can
fruits and vegetables and keep house.
Tie American agriculturist, through
the expenditure of money out of the
National Treasury, is rapidly becoming
scientifically competent.
Now, the valuable effort in nation
building and that is how | view it
should be extended so as 10 include
the millions who are not farmers and
never mean to be. A South Carolina
man said in my presence the other
day, John referring 70 his SOM is
working for S35 a month and is mighty
glad that he has a job. But negro
brlcklayers whom | know are earning
So day
John, the mans son, left school,
dare say, with no object in sight. He
just drfted until he happened to find
employment. The negro bricklayers,
on the other hand, had a purpose. So
the unprepared white man is earning
sl.5O day, while the prepared black
man IS receiving four times as much.
"Out of our schools each June is
coming huge army of boys ranging
in age from fourteen to eighteen.
Those from the high schools think
they are educated-and they are in
books and that work which greases
their hands is below their standard
and dignity. They want to be dressed
up and get employment indoors, over
counters and ledgers and what not. and
there they remain, year after year, at
from $50 10 $50 a month.
"As carpenters they might be earn
ing IS and more a day They are los
ing and society is losing, all on ac-
count Of weakness for white shirts.
Vocational training in our public
schools will dispel the absurd notion
often held by the poor themselves
that overalls, though profitable, are
not highly respectable. Well, they look
rather aristocratic TO me, when | see
men who wear them riding in automo-
biles and living in their own homes.
Efficiency, then, is the first need of
the United States, not only to meet
the strain that will follow when
Europe returns TO the ways of peace.
but all through the coming years of
severe competition between men. cities.
states and nations"
Copyright 1915. by James B. Morrow