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father proceeded to lay before his son the immediately pressing
problems in the businessthe financial obligations already
assumed； the heavy accumulation of stock for which there were no
markets； the increasing costs in production with no hope of relief；
but rather every expectation of added burdens in this direction。
As he listened to his father； Jack was appalled with what he
considered the overwhelmingly disastrous situation in which the
business was placed。 At the same time he saw his father in a new
light。 This silent； stern； reserved man assumed a role of hero in
his eyes； facing desperate odds and silently fighting a lonely and
doubtful battle。 The son was smitten with a sense of his own
futility。 In him was born a desire and a resolve to stand beside
his father in this conflict and if the battle went against them； to
share in the defeat。
〃Dad；〃 cried his son impulsively； 〃I am a rotter。 I have been of
no help to you； but only a burden。 I had no idea the situation was
so serious。〃 Remorse and alarm showed in his tone。
〃Don't misunderstand me；〃 said his father。 〃This is new to you and
appears more serious than it is。 There is really no ground； or
little ground； for anxiety or alarm。 Let me give you the other
side。〃 Then he proceeded to set forth the resources of the
business； the extent of his credit； his plans to meet the present
situation and to prepare for possible emergencies。 〃We are not at
the wall yet； by any means； Jack；〃 he said； his voice ringing out
with a resolute courage。 〃But I am bound to say that if any sudden
or untoward combination of circumstances； a strike； for instance；
should arise； disaster might follow。〃
Jack's heart sank still lower。 He was practically certain that a
strike was imminent。 Although without any official confirmation of
his suspicions； he had kept his eyes and ears opened and he was
convinced that trouble was unavoidable。 As his father continued to
set forth his plans； his admiration for him grew。 He brought to
bear upon the problems with which he was grappling a clear head；
wide knowledge and steady courage。 He was a general； planning a
campaign in the face of serious odds。 He recalled a saying of his
old Commander…in…Chief in France： 〃War is a business and will be
won by the application of business principles and business methods。
Given a body of fighting men such as I command； the thing becomes a
problem of transportation； organization； reserve； insurance。 War
is a business and will be won by fighting men directed or governed
by business principles。〃 He was filled with regret that he had not
given himself more during these last months to the study of these
principles。 The prospect of a fight against impending disaster
touched his imagination and stimulated him like a bugle call。
〃I see what you want； father；〃 he said。 〃You want to have some
good N。 C。 O。's。 The N。 C。 O。 is the backbone of the army；〃 he
quoted with a grin。
〃N。 C。 O？〃 echoed his father。 He was not sufficiently versed in
military affairs to catch the full meaning of the army rag。
〃What I mean is；〃 said Jack； 〃that no matter how able a military
commander is； he must have efficient subordinates to carry on。 No
Colonel can do his own company and platoon work。〃
His father nodded： 〃You've got it； Jack。 I want a manager to whom
I can entrust a policy without ever having to think of it again。 I
don't want a man who gets on top of the load； but one who gets
under it。〃
〃You want a good adjutant； father； and a sergeant…major。〃
〃I suppose so；〃 said the father； 〃although your military terms are
a little beyond me。 After all； the thing is simple enough。 On the
management side； we want increase in production； which means
decrease in production costs； and this means better organization of
the work and the workers。〃
Jack nodded and after a moment； said： 〃May I add； sir； one thing
more？〃
〃Yes；〃 said his father。
〃Team play；〃 said Jack。 〃That is my specialty； you know。
Individualism in a game may be spectacularly attractive； but it
doesn't get the goal。〃
〃Team play；〃 said his father。 〃Co…operation； I suppose you mean。
My dear boy； this is no time for experimentation in profit…sharing
schemes； if that is what you are after。 Anyway； the history of
profiteering schemes as I have read it is not such as to warrant
entire confidence in their soundness。 You cannot change the
economic system overnight。〃
〃That is true enough； Dad；〃 said his son； 〃and perhaps I am a fool。
But I remember； and you remember； what everybody said； and
especially what the experts said； about the military methods and
tactics before the war。 You say you cannot change the economic
system overnight； and yet the whole military system was changed
practically overnight。 In almost every particular； there was a
complete revolution。 Cavalry； fortress defences； high explosives；
the proper place for machine guns； field tactics； in fact； the
whole business was radically changed。 And if we hadn't changed；
they would be speaking German in the schools of England； like
enough； by this time。〃
〃Jack； you may be right；〃 said his father； with a touch of
impatience； 〃but I don't want to be worried just now。 It is easy
enough for your friend； Matheson； and other academic industrial
directors； to suggest experiments with other people's money。 If we
could only get production； I would not mind very much what wages we
had to pay。 But I confess when industrial strife is added to my
other burdens； it is almost more than I can bear。〃
〃I am awfully sorry； Dad；〃 replied his son。 〃I have no wish to
worry you； but how are you going to get production？ Everybody says
it has fallen off terribly during and since the war。 How are you
going to bring it up？ Not by the pay envelope； I venture to say；
and that is why I suggested team play。 And I am not thinking about
co…operative schemes of management； either。 Some way must be found
to interest the fellows in their job； in the work itself； as
distinct from the financial returns。 Unless the chaps are
interested in the game； they won't get the goals。〃
〃My boy；〃 said his father wearily； 〃that old interest in work is
gone。 That old pride in work which we used to feel when I was at
the job myself； is gone。 We have a different kind of workman
nowadays。〃
〃Dad； don't believe that；〃 said Jack。 〃Remember the same thing was
said before the war。 We used to hear all about that decadent race
stuff。 The war proved it to be all rot。 The race is as fine as
ever it was。 Our history never produced finer fighting men。〃
〃You may be right；〃 said his father。 〃If we could only get rid of
these cursed agitators。〃
〃There again； Dad； if you will excuse me； I believe you are
mistaken。 I have been working with these men for the last nine
months； I have attended very regularly the meetings of their unions
and I have studied the whole situation with great care。 The union
is a great institution。 I am for it heart and soul。 It is soundly
and solidly democratic； and the agitators cut very little figure。
I size up the whole lot about this way： Fifty per cent of the men
are steady…going fellows with ambition to climb； twenty…five per
cent are content to grub along for the day's pay and with no great
ambition worrying them。 Of the remainder； ten per cent are sincere
and convinced reformers； more or less half…baked intellectuals； ten
per cent love the sound of their own voices； hate work and want to
live by their jaw； five per cent only are unscrupulous and selfish
agitators。 But； Dad； believe me； fire…brands may light fires； but
solid fagots only can keep fires going。 You cannot make
conflagrations out of torches alone。〃
〃That is Matheson； I suppose；〃 said his father； smiling at him。
〃Well； I own up。 I have got a lot of stuff from Matheson。 All the
same I believe I have fairly sized up the labour situation。〃
〃Boy； boy；〃 said his father； 〃I am tired of it all。 I believe with
some team play you and I could make it go。 Alone； I am not so
sure。 Will you take the job？〃
There was silence between them for a few minutes。 Then Jack
answered slowly： 〃I am not sure of myself at all； Dad； but I can
see you must have someone and I am willing to try the planing
mill。〃
〃Thank you； boy；〃 said his father； stretching his hand quickly
across the table； 〃I will back you up and won't worry you。 Within
reasonable limits I will give you a free hand。〃
〃I know you will； Dad；〃 said Jack； 〃and of course I have been in
the army long enough to know the difference between the O。 C。 and
the sergeant…major。〃
〃Now； what about Tony？〃 inquired Maitland； reverting suddenly to
what both felt to be a painful and perplexing problem。 〃What are
we to do with him？〃
〃I will take him on；〃 said Jack。 〃I suppose I must。〃
〃He will be a heavy handicap to you； boy。 Is there no other way？〃
〃I see no other way；〃 Jack replied。 〃I will give him a trial。
Shall I bring him in？〃
〃Bring him in。〃
In a minute or two Jack returned with Tony。 As Maitland's eyes
fell upon him； he could not prevent a start of shocked surprise。
〃Why； Tony！〃 he exclaimed。 〃What in all the wor