The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-07


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T HE worlds economic fabric has been
so undermined by the great war that
victors and conquered, neutras and
the newly erected States are near break
down under the crushing burdens imposed
upon them by the terrible conflict. Every
country is making supreme efforts and
straining every nerve to improve its stua-
ton But other nation is making so sys-
tematic and thoroughgoing attempts as the
Germans, who are quietly making prepara-
tons not only to regain their old prewar
markets but also to conquer new ones.
They had to hand over their merchant
marine, but are charging and improving
their seaports obtaining control of vessels
under foreign flags, canalizing their streams
and with vision and foresight. building arti-
fetal waterways Of the most modern type to
secure control OF the commerce Of the terri
tory they had intended to incorporate in
Middle Europe, of which they had dreamed
since the days of their Bagdad railroad
scheme. They have lost a large part of
their coal and iron deposits and must de-
liver 100000 tons of coal every month,
but they began to burn substitutes-sub-
bituminous coal, peat and even garbage
briquettes--and to harness their rivers for
the generation of electric current and use
even the heat generated by the electric gen.
orators for central heating plants providing
steam for whole residential districts.
Such measures have been taken also by
other countries though perhaps in a less
comprehensive way. Anyhow, those steps
are not specifically German. though tending
to show how tenaciously the Teutons cling
to their old plan of making conquests-eco-
nomic conquests-slnce the arms Of the
Kaiser's legions have failed to force foreign
nations into submission.
Concentrating on Labor Problem.
Recognizing that human labor is the most
valuable asset of nation the Germans, and
the Germans alone. have set out to increase
production by a country wide system of in
dustrial recruiting based on psycho-techn-
cal tests These tests are. in some respects.
like the modern entrance examinations to
Columbia University. which relegate the old
time examinations in Latin, Greek and other
high school subjects to a back seat. The
German tests. are designed to conclusively
ascertain the line of business activities in
which the boy or girl is most likely to sue
coed
AS human labor is the chief source of ma
tional production and wealth. waste of hu-
man productive ablity-directy by idleness.
indirectly by entering into an occupation for
which the individual is less fitted-is the
most serious waste. On the other hand, to
lead the individual to a career for which he
or she is most fitted means increased pro-
duction a larger income to the individual
ind an addition TO national prosperity.
The idea of assisting the individual in Sc
Letting a calling by psycho-technical tests
was first conceived in Germany. Though
adopted in theory only by other countries,
il has been put to n practical test on a large
scale in the Fatherland exclusively.
There the institution of the "Berufsberut-
Hno" (advice as to the career to be chosen)
is not new. In 1910 experiments TO test the
ability OF n student as to special gymnastic
achievements were made at the Bavarian
TurnlehrorJifdun0sdnstd (Gymnastic
Teachers Training SchooD, Munich and
we're soon aftervard taken up by similar
Berlin and Dresden institutes.
Private or municipal Borufsberdtungs-
StcIicH institutes for advice as to the career
TO be choscn) were established in several
cites--at Berlin. for instance in 1912 the
Zcntrdlstcuo fucr LehrlpOs ittluno des
Tcrbdndes der Mderki chen Arbctsnach-
tceisc Central Apprentice Office Of the Ali
ance of Labor Agencies OF the Province Of
BIandenburg) and the Gross Bcrliuer Aus
kunftstcHe fUer Frducnbcrufc Great Ber-
lin Advice Office for Female Workers. but
did not exert any appreciate influence. al
though the public authorities again and
again called public attention TO the benefits
to be derived from consulting such institu-
tons.
Then nil went well for Germany. It's
wealth and foreign commerce increased by
leaps and bounds. Under such circumstances
the innovation of psycho-technical tests was
not readily adopted by the public But when
Germany had lost tho war and knew she
would not only have to pay her own crush
ing debts but also be saddled with nearly
as heavy burden OF indemnitics. she did
Mot hesitate to enhance the value Of her
chiof asset. human labor. at an costs.