Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-31
SAM JONES' LETTER.
Higher Standard of fTntegrity Need
 cd in Commercial Circles.
Where the Reform Must Begin = Stock Gambling and How It Robs the Legiti- mate Channels of Trade-Class
 of F, opie He'd.
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 have previously pointed out what I regarded as an essential step to be taken in order that the present tenden- cy of the times may be stayed and the tide of commercial and industrial well fare turned in n more promising direc- ton.
 The burden of that letter was greater conscience put into the every day life of successful business men, professional men, office holders and legislators. While the same reforma- ton, and in the same degree, is neces- sary among the great masses of the people, we know they cannot be ex- pectcd to take the lead, for the devel- opment of such an enterprise into popular craze can only be instituted through example andinhuencc.
 It is perfectly natural now that men moving in the higher spheres, can, if they will set the pace, be instrumental in accelerating the establishment of a higher standard of business integrity and personal honor Such a spirit in them will catch among those in the humber walks of life and become sur
 
 the people.
 As long as our leaders arc in hot pur- suit of the almighty dollar along the lines of least resistance without regard to the service rendered in return, our youths growing up are bound to follow in their footsteps, perpetuating the wiclSedness of the world, instead of overcoming it.
 There are many men engaged in busi-- ness, who, by nature and disposition, :. are inclined toward honorable and up- right methods, but, intermixed with this class, is another well-nigh devoid of manly principles or moral instincts, altogether interruptions in their trans actions. Their brains are constantly at work devising schemes for making money without labor or legitimate venture. They may, perhaps, enter some legitimate calling, but they intro duce dishonest methods in pursuing it. Such characters are an eyesore to the community in which they live, and a disgrace and dishonor to their country. This latter class make it almost impos- sible, in the diversified avenues of trade and commerce, for the man who ad- heres to strictly honest and straight forward policy to forge his way ahead.
 If he refuses to embrace the endless opportunities afforded in business in- tercourse to subserve his own interests by intrigue, artifce and selfshness, he is placed at a disadvantage in the race for commercial, social and political su- premacy. He either drifts into the practice of the gang and succeeds, or is left far behind amid the tow and drift wood.
 Thus many Christian men must face defeat, or succunb inevitably to the same temptations and artifices.
 Some Of these indirect tricks of the trade" are becoming common to many of our staunchest and most conserva- tive mercantile institutions. And thus we have the wrong standard set up, which will not bear the light of keen moral scrutiny any more than will the ]. dishonorable and disgraceful acts of those who resort to the lowest schemes and meanest tricts.
 Judged by the standard which God erects for man, they are no less sinful than the act of the thief who sneaks in and steals your money while you sleep. The difference is in favor of the com mon thief, for he generally robs the rich, while the sleek, oily merchant be- hind his counter, or the smooth-tongued confidence man, sitting before his desk, looks for his victims among the poor and those who can least afford to part with their hard-earned wages.
 is these same cancers and ulcers
 eh have grown upon us that are
 ping the life-blood of this country
 Eday. They are nothing less than egal systems and machines, tolerated
 Id protected by purchased and pur- asable lawmakers
 kake, for one instance, the. abom- ble institution called stock gam ikJhg. Analyze it, if you will-not to ( I've it fraud of unlawful character, that fact is self-evident, but simply 6 demonstrate how the producers and consumers and the legitimate channels of trade are robbed of just returns for labor and investment.
 You have seen the sailors needle, with which he makes and mends his nets, whittled to fine point at both ends and fat in the middle? Well, that admirably illustrates the distorted and strained condition of our people, under the depicting influence of stock gam bling as conducted on the board of trade in the leading markets of the world. The farmers, laborers and man. ufacturers, representing production on the one hand, and the masses of the peo- pie, representing consumption, on the other, are the two fine points whittled down to starvation mark, while the bnlging center, with it's millions of stolen wealth, is where the stock gam