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me。 I would work him； or break his neck。〃
His father sat silently pondering for some minutes。 Then； as if
making a sudden resolve； he said： 〃Jack； I have been wanting to
speak with you about something for some weeks。 I have come to a
place where it is imperative that I get some relief from my load。
You see； I am carrying the whole burden of management practically
alone。 I look after the financing； the markets； I keep an eye on
production and even upon the factory management。 In normal
conditions I could manage to get along； but in these critical days；
when every department calls for close； constant and sane supervision；
I feel that I must have relief。 If I could be relieved of the job
of shop management； I could give myself to the other departments
where the situation at present is extremely critical。 I want a
manager； Jack。 Why not take the job？ Now；〃 he continued； holding
up his hand； as his son was about to speak； 〃listen for a moment or
two。 I have said the situation is serious。 Let me explain that。
The financing of this business in the present crisis requires a
man's full time and energy。 Markets； credits； collections； all
demand the very closest attention。〃
Jack glanced at his father's face。 For the first time he noticed
how deep…cut were the lines that indicated care； anxiety and worry。
A sudden remorse seized him。
〃I am awfully sorry； sir；〃 he said； 〃I have not been of much help
to you。〃
Maitland waved his hand as if dismissing the suggestion。 〃Now you
know nothing of the financial side； but you do know men and you can
handle them。 You proved that in the war； and； in another way； you
proved that during this recent athletic contest。 I followed that
very closely and I say without hesitation that it was a remarkably
fine bit of work and the reactions were of the best。 Jack； I
believe that you would make a great manager if you gave yourself to
it； and thought it worth while。 Now； listen to me。〃 Thereupon the
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