The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-06

quence, By the distribution monthly to over
xoO trade journals of desirable short articles
upon modern and profitable systems of bust
refai,a as wen as ny the wide circulation among
rCslauers OF such pamphlets as "Indiyiduai
Sreolts' and Business Hints as to Business
success" we seek to establish better cIIstoms
ana eh pIacIlces In business, which rebound to
me advantage of retailer and wholesaler
alike. II we have been successful. as go
many INFORM US we have, in securing from
msrcanuie agencies an Improvement in their
ssSfSlce. we nave been influential in aiding
gnose VINO buy as well as those who sell for
IN imperfect and inaccurate reports freouent
injury has been wrought to both debtors ana
the "Psyma IN e as p;1n an agitation on
Checks and Fake Advertising" we have
SIMPLY been laboring in behalf of Justice and
integrity; L is impossible to indicate a single
acuon OF this association whereby any adj
vantage has been sought for consumer re-
talier. wholesaler, manufacturer or banker
over any OF the others, or where in the con-
summation Of our efforts the entire com
mun1ty of interests has not been subserved.
me time may come when, by reason of the
anaependency and spirit of profit actuating
bus a1 es'a9hsned and thrifty institutions OF
D Doe.da 1t may be necessary for our as
~ stpclation 70 assume, the prerogatiyes which
tney now SO largely monopolize in order that
sa,,, may establish more perfect and reliable
service TO the entire business community
rms possibility, however, will never he
Tsailzed SO long as by our influence and
we can obtain from others the reforma-
ss ana innovations which experiences and
Judgment demonstrate as apparently neces
SaFy. Under any and all circumstances ho1r
t eSer' II may be confidently understood that
ae spIrlt OF mutually will never be oh
scured. The entire revenues of the associa-
tI0n VIII De always devoted to the fuIfiIment
u q M0re ideal system of trade and the
recognition and enforcement of suner1a tive
business ethics 1peA t''aFo
PHYSICAL Law NECESSARY.
1t may be stated with authority that mo
TWO potential factors in the worlds progress
are moral and physical law. The one Is tha
spontaneous guide of desirable citizenship:
cne other Is the involuntary regulator of or.
Toneous incl1nations. The latter is absolutely
Tssehtlal to the sustenance of the former
Wlthout statutory law the debased would So
abuse the honorable that morality womb
* soon become a disintegrating force Decry
policy, Is the actuaIting motive of large per
centage OF our population. Let our laws be
SO loosely framed and so leniently inter-
preted as to protect hypocrisy and corruption
ana an Incentive Is at once established for
their enlarged practice. On the other hand
Wnen those who are governed by the moral
ctples OF life by the enforcement through
statutory enactment Of like conduct from
those otherwise inclined, We establish condi-
ton which is at once our salvation and our
honor. Under these circumstances it is
profound duty to exercise every influence for
the adoption and enforcement of just, effica-
defining the rights Of business intercourse.
When 1t is possible for an individual to fail,
and by actions which the thoroughly honor
able would seorn to adopt, to defraud his
Just and lawful creditors of the financial set
Element which in equity is theirs, condition.
Is established which magnifies the number Of
those willing to assume the same methods
when opportunity offers. When a business
man can knowingly make a misrepresenta-
ton of his affairs for the purpose of enlarged
credit, and the creditors find 1t impossible
prosecute the dishonest debtor, because the
statutory provision covering such case is
SO framed as to place the burden of proof so
heavily upon the injured as to make the law
imperative, a. condition is established which
makes business dealings uncertain and haz-
ardous. When laws exist enabling business
men to withhold from their creditors in case
OF failure. 1,00e acres of land, block of resi-
dences, factory building, or any illogical
and unreasonable property asset, because by
certain technicalities or a liberal construction
of the law itself, such property may be con-
strued as homestead, or legal exemption, an
injustice Is wrought to creditors and an en-
barrassment is placed upon trade which Is
detrimental to the best interests of this coun-
try. So we might analyze the laws of our
various states and find abundant inconsis-
tencies and injustices the existence of which
makes the recognition of the moral law less
popular and less observed. While this Is
true the condition must, nevertheless, be de-
plored with considerable universally, and
be corrected by the influence of united &C
ton. 1t Is happy augury that such en-
deavor is one Of the motives of our associa-
ton. Let 1t be repeated that we can do as an
organization what never could be accom-
plfshed as individuals.
MUCH GOOD DONE ALREADY.
The legal enactments which we have al
ready been influential in obtaining have been
strikingly helpful in improving business con-
ditioEs and elevating the character of trade
conduct. The laws in Alabama, Wisconsin
and Ohio, forbiding preferences, and those in
Louisiana and Colorado preventing the sale OF
a stock in bulk, without the proper protec-
ton of creditors, have all been founded upon
equity and established in justice. What the
influence of such Independent action In these
various states was upon our national congress
it Is impossible to say, but surely the senti-
ment of the business community could IN no
way have been more effectively recorded tnan
by this impressive illustration that, despair
Ing of any relief from a national source, tae
orSv thing left was to frame state laws 70
meet the situation. No matter what the m
fluence however, we appreciate the existence
of national bankruptcy Jaw even IN us LII.
IF that law, and what Improvements snail De
made both in its provision and It's operauonS
denends upon the influence and action OF
business men. and largely upon our own as
There is also imminent necessity for the
reconstruction of the various state asslsn-
ment laws so as to make them largey IN
conformity with this act A prominent AZ.
fornev informed me but few days ago lnAL
the tendency will be for those VINO can miake
an assignment under the state laws, Wniie
only those who are hopelessly involved WIN
voluntarily go into bankruptcy: me necss-
sity therefore, exists for continued acuVity
aIono Legislative lines. No session or any
sTate legislature should be permitted to pass
without an intelligent and energetic EFFORT 10
Improve the commonwealth his enactments per-
taipine to business dealings. BY such con-
tinuous efforts we will eventually SURROUND
commerce with legal environment Wortny
of this republic. In this endeavor we are
pleased to record one Of the highest missions
of our association; mission to fulnll Whicn
requires discretion, harmony, Judgment ana
perseverance, but In the consummatlon OF
which comes results OF benencence ANU
grandeur.
SHOULD HELP EACH OTHER.
If we need statutory laws to restrain error,
and encourage integrity, we also need ecu
cation and example to stimulate and foster
better business conceptions and trade GUS
toms. The lack Of interest shown in his bus
mess success by those who reasonably could
be expected to manifest some concern, has
discouraged many merchant and led to
failure which might easily have been avoid
ed by helpful suggestions and thoughtful
counsel from the very house whose impulsive
action has precipitated the assignment. The
absence of this cooperative and friendly
interest in the past has reared a barrier be-
tween debtor and creditor which has caused
each to look with suspicion on the other.
more ideal condition promises to become es-
tablished as the result of our association. The
Communicating of credit men with one another
socially, the intimate discussion of the broad
principles OF business and credit, and the
o1O Oh dyyn F cfO