graphers, or whether you
yourself, in your little corner office with your three or four retail
clerks as a working force, constitute the whole organization. The spirit
of scientific analysis and the fitting of each man to his job in a common
sense, sane, practical way, instead of according to out-of-date methods,
is the important consideration in the remedy which we present.

CHAPTER IV

RESULTS OF SCIENTIFIC EMPLOYMENT

In a lecture to the students of the New York Edison Company Commercial
School, on January 20, 1915, afterward also presented at the Third Annual
Convention of the National Association of Corporation Schools at
Worcester, Mass., on June 9, 1915, Herman Schneider, Dean of the College
of Engineering of the University of Cincinnati, in discussing "The Problem
of Selecting the Right Job," made the following statement:

"2. Physical Characteristics.

"This seems to be a development of the old idea of phrenology. It is
claimed in this system that physical characteristics indicate certain
abilities. For example, a directive, money-making executive will have a
certain shaped head and hand. A number of money-making executives were
picked at random and their physical characteristics charted. We do not
find that they conform at all to any law. Also, we found men who had
physical characteristics that ought to make them executives, but they were
anything but executives. A number of tests of this kind gave negative
results. We were forced to the conclusion that this system was not
reliable."

It is of exceeding great importance for us to know whether the conclusion
of Dean Schneider is to be accepted as final. He is a man of high
attainment and has done some most remarkable and highly commendable work
in connection with continuation schools in the city of Cincinnati. His
opinion and conclusion, therefore, are worthy of the most careful
consideration.

At first glance, Dean Schneider's method of investigation seems sound and
his statement, therefore, conclusive. He examined actual cases; he
collected evidence, and he found that physical characteristics were not a
reliable guide to aptitudes and character. It is well for us, however, to
remember in discussing problems of this kind, that every new scientific
discovery has always been rejected by many recognized authorities after
what they considered to be careful and convincing tests. Harvey nearly
died in trying to maintain his theory of the circulation