Evening journal., 1891-05-30

Wnan Dflgub young man OF bbt
EVENING JOURNAL called on George w.
Stone, the ship chandler, to verify OF
deny the rumors whicn were current
concerning his financial condition, he
said among other things deprecating a
publication:
"Well, it would simply be kicking a
man when he is down. Literally taking
him by the nRpe of the neck and drag
ging him all over the city IL might do
me incalculable harm just at this time
when | am makinga a satisfactory ad-
justment Of my affairs. had not had an
unpleasant word from one Of my crsdi-
tors. have letters here from nearly all
Of them telling me TO 60 ahead. The
kindest thing you can do Is to say moth
ing about it. Even favorable notice at
this time would be a positive injury"
"What is the extent Of your merehan-
disc Indebtedness"
That isn't anybody's business. 1t is
private business entirely. | refuse to
answer any such questions.
Are you going to continue in bust
nessYi
"Yes, here am doing business at the
old stand
But are you now running the business
for the benefit Of your creditors2"
That have been doing for years"
The latter Is a confession that the
business is Improbable and perhaps
that Mr., Stone Is incompetent
1t is not wise for Mr.. Stone, nor foi
any 9th er man, to run a business for the
benefit Of his creditors; it is not profit
able for the community A business run
for the benefit Of creditors is usually
insolvent. An insolvent business benefits
nobody. II should be settled and closed
and should not be run for any other pur-
pose than to effect speedy, and II posi-
BILE. undiminished return Of It's unprofit-
able capital to its respective owners.
Some men hold views which are
erroneous concerning the use of capital
others hold immoral views.
The law, which Is the will Of the
people, interferes between a reckless or
immoral man and his creditors for
the protection Of capital which he ia
using, sometimes abusing. II was so In
this case. The creditors, for reasons
best known to themselves, were not
satisfied with the relations between
them and Mr.. Stone, and they
solicited and obtained the inter-
ference Of the law. That brings Mr..
Stones financial affairs to the knowledge
Of the people, and renders them subject
to public comment
MT. Stone Is clearly in error when he
says these are his private affairs with
which the public has no business.
That is an error too common among a
certain class Of men who do business
chiefly on borrowed capital 1t is just
that disposition Of supercilious conceal
ment which makes capital timid and
<eften prevents worthy and profitable en-
terprises from securing It.
Another error into which Mr.. Stone
has, perhaps. unconsciously fallen, Ii
that the EVENING JOURNAL might pos
sibly treat him unkindly We do moi
consider that it is unkindly to tell on,
honest nsighbor how another homes
neighbOr is doing business. II be is doing
1t correctly, prohtAbly, and with ecredi
to himself and benefit 10 the community
it does not -matter how much is sal,
about 1t. To expose It is to Justify It an,
obtain for him and 1t the approval OF th
community. II the facts are otherwis
then it is for the protection Of the com
mnnity and the discipline Of the mai
that an exposure is made.
II does not matter how much money
man borrows II he uses it safely an,
legitimately so as to earn interest, tn
more the better. II he does not use tn
money thus, 1t is injurious to the com
munity and discreditable to him.
Sentiment and sympathy should no
govern the use Of borrowed capital. II
man deserves well Of his fellowmer
sympathy and sentiment will come (
him fast enough, but man should frs
deserve, before he claims them.
The EvREINa JoU REAL has no M
kindly feeling, whatever, could not hay
any against Mr.. Stone, for we beliey
him to be an honest man carrying on
legitimate trade, but we cannot swerv
from the duty we owe the people in tell
ing them how they came to be intereste
and were called upon to interfere be
tween Mr.. Stone and his creditors.
4