Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-04-09
SAM JONES' LETTER.
Standard Of Integrity Need
ed in Commercial Circles
Whore the Reform Must Begin - Stock
Gambling and How It Robs the Lesiti-
mate Channels of Trade-Class
Of People Bied.
looPYRioBr. ieee.l

Il
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 more promising direc-
ton.
The burden Of that letter was a
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-
pected to take the lead, for the devel-
opment of such an enterprise into a
popular craze can only be instituted
through example and influence.
1t is perfectly natural now that men
moving in the higher spheres, can, IL
they will set the pace, be instrumental
in accelerating the establishment of
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
prisingly popular to great majority of
the people.
As long as our leaders are 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
wickedness 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 unscrupulous in their trans
actions. Their brains are constantly
ut work devlsing 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 4
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.
II he refuses to embrace the endless
opportunities afforded in business in
tercourse to subserve his own interests
by intrigue, artifice and selfishness, 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 articles.
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.
1t Is these same cancers and ulcers
which have grown upon us that are
sappipg the life-blood of this country
to-day. They are nothing less than
illegal systems and machines, tolerated
and protected by purchased and pur-
chasable lawmakers.
Take, for one instance, the abom-
tnable institution called stock gam
bling. Analyze 1t, If you will-not to
prove 1t fraud Of unlawful character,
for that fact is self-evident, but simply
to 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, whitfield 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
trado in the leading markets OF the
world. The farmers, laborers and man.
ufacturers, representing production on
the ene hand, and the masses OF the peo-
pie, representing consumption, on the
other, are the two fine points Whitfield
down to starvation mark, while the
bullying center, with its millions OF
stolen wealth, is where the stock gam
bier lives.
Perhaps, II we take big fat, bloated
Dutchman, tanlxed up with beer until
his circumference measures four feet,
tapering down to his pedal extrem-
tiles and up to his empty head, we VIII
have a more comprehensive illustra-
tion.
The farmer raises his corn or cotton,
puts It on the market and it goes for
the price set by the stock gamblers, not
according to the laws of supply and de-
mard. The price they set Is sufficient
ly low to fleece the poor. hard-worked
tiller OF the soil out of most OF his prof
its in business, and the margin OF mil
lions of dollars thus created goes to
swell the Golfers of the interruptions
few who spend their time In Chicago