The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-09-16
Toward Organization
BY OR. FRANY CRANE
(Cop, riSht, 1915 BY Frank CraneD


We like to fight, TO curse, 10 hate and
to struggle, not because these things are
wicked, but because they. are the only
sort OF sport We understand We are inn
perfectly developed nalf brute, and claw
ana bite because We only Know enough 10
work OF our energy IN taat crude way.
We have the VISION, but DO not know
how TO leanze II. me vision is the per-
rect organization OF the world. That
woulu mean every man dong his part
OF the word s. WoIA ana receiving his due
pay.
We are coming 10 this slowly, with dis
treSSlng coSmc slowneSs, by nnnIte eX-
pcllmentS, costly failures vast waste
Ihe hnale OF the human drama is a
complete, smoothly working organization.
This Is the millennium
This is the oak toward which our acorn
age Is striving.
Yet we are making mighty strides to-
ward cooperation. But It is Sporadlcally,
here and there. 10y Individual effort in
stead of common, unified purpose.
The people need railways, for instance.
Railways are impossible without organiz-
ing men into large groups. We have not
sense enough to DO this ourselves: some
organizing genius comes along and does
know how he accompliShes what we
want; but as he is not our officer or
agent. as We opposed him every step Of
the way as the only motive available to
hun was the hope OF profits, the result is
that instead Of the benefits accrung
mostly TO the people an unduly large part
of them passes into the pockets of the
genius. And If We had not let him skim
the cream OF the enterprise he would
not have undertaken il.
So we curse him for a capitalist a
thief and n robher He probably is. Only
as such did We make il possible for him
10 work. With no motive hat the money
motive he naturally gets all out Of it he
can
But there is no reason why man
should not build up or manage rail
way or factory, or bank. as high mind
Nv as the president administers the
ofTars of a nation He could. if he
could do it as a public official: as il is,
he can only do il az a public enemy.
Petroleum is general necessity. The
people want it and use IT, They didn't
have foresight and shrewdness enough
70 build up the petroleum industry.
did So they benefited the public, but
they did it 20 get rich and now enjoy
The envy. adulation. and hatred Of the
commons. If Mr.. Rockefeller could have
done this as the governor Of Pennsyl-
vania he would have been much happier.
and we all much better Off But we are
AZ the present stage OF progress too stu
Did tradition bound, and mutton Drained
either 10 develop the coal oil business our
selves or TO recognize and properly honor
a Rockefeller TO DO il for us.
Trusts are merely doing what the peo-
pie ought to do themselves.
Big business is merely democracy IN
business For the essence OF democracy
is not competition but cooperation.
The proper profits of any kind OF bust
ness can never be made until all co-work.
Then they are enormous.
The cattlemen ought TO have combined
and selected their agent TO attend to the
meat packing. They didn't know enough.
They were too busy fighting each other.
Then came p. D. Armour. who knew. He
ORGANIZED Millions of undreamed OF
profits we're straightway visible. But or
course Armour had the first whack at
them.
The Socialists who are berating the
trust makers are not pushing us toward
ultimate organization more than the
TRUST makers who are viewing the social
lists with alarm.
Cursers and cursees both work toward
the same end
when men smile and agree says
modern philosopher, progress weeps.