Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-24
The "Whys and Wherefores"


for intelligence. The young man who
seeks to know the why's and where
fores" is usually the one who gets
the promotion. Moreover this atti-
tude of mind not only makes for in
telligence, it also makes for the CO.
operative effort, with its almost in
finite capacities.
There is recognition of these we'll
known-but too seldom usrd-facts
in the remarks of telephone super
intendent before a meeting OF the
managers. From the report of his
address, printed in Telephone Topics
for June. the following should be Of
interest:
Governmental management is
management by all the people; it is
the largest and most complicated
organization possibly conceivable,
and obviously involves politics and
thousands of other factors that nat
urally arouse confusion and suspicion
to develop-what's every ones bust
ness is no ones business. There
are, therefore. sound reasons why
governmental or other similarly
large units Of management must nee
essarily operate under serious handi-
caps, why real team work cannot
exist.
IF man does everything for him.
self, he sees the whole picture Of his
work, he knows that the harder and
better he works the more he will
have and the happier he will be;
and, conversely, the happier he is,
the harder and better he works ana
with less effort. If he trades his pro-
ducts with another, he also sees all
that goes on in connection with his
work, he Is still the complete CO.
ordinated unit, and he knows that
energy and efficiency will be properly
rewarded. The entire route from the
receipt to the disbursement Of the
rewards Of production is clear; he
sees and understands ALL"
That manager who would not in
the light Of these conditions seek to
encourage team work" would seem
short sighted. If we may judge from
the endeavors being made along this
and similar lines a like conclusion Il
being reached by many, Quoting
further from Superintendent Whit
ney we should: Instead Of blindly
providing a pre- determined reward
for the individual. and then trying
to insist that it be properly earned
provide an unlimited opportunity for
all, and then insist that the indivi-
dual results obtained be properly re-
warded. in accordance with the ca
pacity Of the business. This is a
simple. sound, human spirit. the de.
velopment Of which means that plain
old-fashioned cooperation and EN-.
cheney that has always given good
productivity; and which in turn has
always assured success"
1t Is generally conceded that very
much Of the labor unrest has beer
due to the idea that under modern
methods Of doing business the work.
men becomes a part Of the machinery
to be used to the utmost and ther
scrapped. It would be folly to deny
the existence Of certain tendencies
to this epd. but broader vision dis.
covers the fact that man is not an6
cannot be made a machine; that in.
dividual capacity and purpose will
under almost any conditions make 9
place for themselves; nevertheless
tho desirability Of encouraging this
cultivating 1t to the utmost, in short
is being generally recognized: tina,
the inquiring mind may learn and be
enthused by the why's and where.
fores" Of its duties.