The New York herald., 1921-03-06
Reviewed by GEORGE KENT.

Reviewed Dy 1EON1E kENi.
Broadly put, the aims of industry
to-day are twofold: first, to Increase
and speed up production; second, 10
slay the ogre OF Bolshevism. The con-
dition which produced Bolshevism is
the condition which demands that the
production centres Of the world null
tiply their outputs--a condition of dew
astation, of hunger and suffering
caused by war itself and wars after
math. BY increasing production the
world will be hurried toward normal
and the ogre may be slain. possibility
which tends to unite the double aim
OF industry
The two elements which enter into
any consideration OF the problems OF
production are labor and machinery.
The experimental laboratories and
workshops can be depended upon to
turn out each year their quota OF
time and labor saving devices their
new and startling applications OF
power. Neither is there anything
temperamental about machinery.
Labor will be necessary as long as
physical law forbds the perpetual mo-
tton machine. At the present time
labor, unlike it's inanimate partaker
in production, is not to be depended
on. The achievement of both of the
aims OF industry depends almost en-
tirely upon it's manner of handling
the labor problem. The gospel OF the
Industrial theorist and of the prac-
tical observer Is that the contented
worker is the worker who produces
most Link this to the oft repeated
maxim that empty stomachs breed
revolution, and the conclusion Is forced
upon the thinking person that to con-
tent labor means to increase produc-
ton. which will restore normalcy, and
in the course of time bring low the
menace"
Because labor has become such a
vital factor to the peace and happi-
ness OF the world, three stout vol
umes just off the Ronald presses, each
presenting methods Of solution OF the
several problems OF labor and per-
sonnel management ought to be well
coined by American industry as an
event. Each is a comprehensive REF
erence book" type OF treatise, written
by an authority. They treat the re-
lated subjects of hiring and placing
OF employees LUelT anu,
finally. their environment and their
treatment.
Although IL IS now almost three
years since the signing of the armis-
tice, the results of the training and
handling OF multitudes of men, as was
done in the army. are only Just begin,
ming to come to light. Scientific
methods for handling and for classify
ing men evolved by "professorial no
bodies" were given extensive trials.
and many succeeded. The result is
that employers are now receiving the
'"airy-fairy" notions OF science with a
degree of hospitality and humility that
is astounding. The trend is away
from brutal to scientific objectivity.
which. by melting out rigorous scien-
tific justice, metes out the best treat
ment conceivable. "The cold father"
the best father" for his employees
are the best content.
Hardly anything more seriously
hampers production under the condi-
tions OF modern industry than the
wastes from misdirected effort" de-
clares Nathan w. Shefferman In his
book called Employment Methods"-
"men working listlessly because they
are In the wrong job. and men shifting
needlessly from one job to another"
Taking up the four recently evolved
methods for judging the fitness of
applicants, namely. "graphology. char
acter analysis (observational method).
psychological tests and trade tests"
Mr.. Shefferman declares that all are
more or less in the experimental stage
save the last. which because OF their
concreteness have found wide accept
ance. Regardless OF systems and
tests" he remarks, at Is probable that
the seasoned interviewer OF to-day.
like the small boss or foreman Of the
past, learns TO choose men effectively
chiefly ny long experience. Selecting
the right man must always remain to
some extent q matter OF lunches"
Every phase OF employment matters
from the organization OF the employ
nent office up TO such small matters
as "absenteeism" and hardness are all
discussed here. Mr.. Shererman's
book, as well as the other two under
consideration, are veritahle bundles OF
practical documents and material bor-
rowed from the fles Of large corpora
tions. The constant reference made
In these volumes TO Office and factory
methods in the active outside indus
trial world gives them q practicability
which many similar treatises lack.
The subject Of industrial education
which is touched upon IN Mr. Shelter
mans book Is considered at length In
Training Industrial Workers" by DR.
Roy willmarth Kelly.
Dr. John NJ. Brewer director Of the
bureau Of vocational guidance OF Har-
ward University, In his preface 10 the
work explains its scope as follows:
"Dr Kellys work is written TO tell
industrial managers and educational
directors about the lessons which both
school people and manufacturers have
learned In shop and factory. and TO
show how these lessons can be applied
10 particular estahlishments. lie brings
in review the successful accomplish
ments in vocational education with the