The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1917-01-19
ROOM AT THE TOP.

MANY of the kindly old maXims are
SO firmly based that they persist in
spite of the changed conditions and
sentiments. Now and then one goes the
way of flesh, no matter how popular.
A saying which has held great
vogue and which indeed made faith
to see a star and hope to hear
the rustic of wing was There is
room at the top" Its counterpart was
stanza almost forgotten now, but
running somewhat this way:
"Be good, my son." my father said
Though life be fair or stormy;
Some day you may be president,
Or general in the army"
Neither can now be much of stim7
ulant to ambition. In demolishing the
in his poverty and Riches" Scott
Nearing also weakens its counterpart
To illustrate how the mind, seeing
dimly that a change has come about,
gropes awkwardly to find a reason
therefor, this writer some years ago
said rather ironically: But even the
top is now overcrowded with the kin
folks and friends with pull" He
knew that the application of the max
i'm was become vain thing, and tried
to show why. If he failed Professor
Nearing has succeeded in giving a log
zeal explanation. Says he;
"There is a saying that has come
down from the time when the frontier
was still a factor in national life,
There is plenty of room at the top.
The truth is that the modern organl-
cation of industry calls for very few
men at the top and great many men
below This system of industrial or
ganization is just as well understood
as the organization Of section on a
railroad. There is one foreman IN
charge of a number of workers. 20
into any mine, store or factory ana
YOU will find certain number OF SUI
perintendents, foremen, skilled and un-
skilled workers. This number VIII
vary from one industry to another, but
in the same industry it will be fairy
constant. The traditions Of American
life had their origins at time when
the Young man walked into the bank,
swept the floor, ran brands, and by a
logical process worked up to the pres
idency. The feat was no difficult mat
ter. because there were only four 9TH
er men in the bank. Another young
man walked into shop, learned the
trade, and by the time he was forty
had a thriving shop Of his own. But
then there were only half dozen men
in the shop = The era of small
scale industry has passed in all OF the
important industries except agrlcul7
ture. With the passing Of the small
scale industry has gone the abundant
room at the top.
The figures of 1918 show that there
were 1898 general officers in the en-
ploy of the American railroads. AS
sumo for convenience of discussion
that all of these general officers are
at the top. In 1895 there were 5,4ol
general officers, or one for every lao
employees. In 1912 there was one gen
eral officer for each 419 employees. THIS
change has been brought about IN a
period Of nineteen years. In those TWO
decades the room at the top has mar
rowed down perceptibly Inc
ratio between the number Of railroad
employees will probably grow smaller
as time goes on and the railroad inter-
ests are consolidated The result IS a
steady dwindling room at the top
Every boy born in the United States
has a chance to be president. Inc
facts show that the probabilities are
far greater that boy will live to DC o,
one hundred years old than that he Will
be president. The chance is there
theoretically, any boy may be presl-
dent. Practically, about 9,999,999 boys