Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-11
HUMAN ELEMENT
in BUSINESS
[Continucd from First Page

CONTINUED from First Pagc.l
realize in a short time the many
benefits made possible in reconstruct
ing that which has been destroyed
Thus 1t has been with war. Many
cherished traditions, customs, privi-
leges have been completely upturned
along with complete overthrow of
autocracy; and do not overlook this
important fact-autocracy in busi-
ness and life has no more moral right
to exist than it had in the govrning
of mankind. If business is conduct
ed along the lines. and assumes the
systems by which autocrats of the
old world directed and activities of
their governments we can expect
sooner or later the same results.
Blind to Ourselves
There was and is reason why
the Allies have been victorious. Their
armies were actuated by the spirit
and Will to do each their own part
and why? Every man in the allied
armies felt that it was his army, his
battle, his Government. He is a part
and parcel of the Government, and as
such he feels the individual respon-
sibiity to carry on" He wants and
requires leaders, men in authority
to plan and provide. All men cannot
be thinkers, just as many are physic-
ally unable to be doers. There must
be in all armies leaders, officers in
the military in the commercial
sense. executives.
Probably because We can see so
often the faults in some other per-
sons business and are blind to our
own will explain why we will all ad-
NIT without argument that die
tatorial. selfish, self opinionated of
ficer cannot and does not get the CO.
operation and effort from his COM
mand that the officer who has the
respect love and good fellowship of
his command. The pay, food. cloth
ing, shelter OF. the efficient body of
men is precisely the same as the in
efficient.
In the army there is and can be
only one difference, the manner in
which the individuals are treated
by their leaders. DO unto others as
you would have others do unto you"
is a command and advice some two
thousand years old. the wisdom of
which has never BEEN questioned, but
men who know perfectly well its
truth have deliberately or unthink-
ingly disregarded it.
Lessons of Wars
IF American business has regaincd
or renewed its soul the trying ex-
periences of the war and the recon-
struction period through which we
are passing will be but as labor pains
ushering in a new era of peace on
earth and good will to men, for as
we blazed the way in establishing
a new kind of government for man
kind. cannot we as businessmen, by
establishing the rule of reason"
each in his own organization, his
own factory or store, so educate our
neighbors, be they employers or en-
ployes, so that we all do our part
toward the solution of the age prob
lem-wages and work.
You may be as the Pharisee of
old, grateful that you are so 7luch
better than Mr.. So and So, but don't
look backward. Forward is the slo-
gan of all successful men; ask your
self again and again, am / doing as
well as the best, if not, why not"
Have you any right to expect your
employees to do all they can for you
unless you do all you can for them.
It's not enough to do as much for
your employees as your competitor
to receive as much of their effort
for you as your competitors en-
ployes give to him.
This attitude encourages a frame
of mind upon the part of both inter
ested parties wherein the bargain
and sale instinct of man becomes up
permost and no one wants the other
fellow to have an advantage over
him. Put the spirit of fair play into
your life; you remember as a boy
the crowning virtues in parent, teach
err companion was that of being fair.
Boys will do anything any time
for an older person whom they oa-
lieve to be fair and will fight a hope
less and unequal battle against i'm
position. and men you know are only
boys grown tall.
The Human Element
And. gentlemen, this means we