The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-01-04
NO. 1

| to make and emphasize, and as far as
in our power lies call attention to; and
that is this: Apparently someone some
where neglected a grave duty and re-
sponsibility in this case, and in many
more like it.
This bank had board of directors,
and probably highly-pa:d officers at its
head; and these gentlemen were put
there and paid their salaries and given
their honors for a distinct purpose.
This bank was asking to be trusted
with the funds of hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of deposiiors, and these
gentlemen at the head of the institu-
tion were supposed to be-the guaran-
tors of the safety of these funds. And
what were these gentlemen doing all
these years, while one subordinate en-
ployee was making way with thousands
upon thousands of their depositors'
money? What kind Of sense Of respon-
sibility had these good gentlemen that
such things should go on under their
very eyes, and they know nothing of
them until the final crash came? What
were these good gentlemen there for?
And if they did not intend to do the
duty of the office, and measure up to
the consequent responsibility, why did
they accept the position at all? And
why are scores-we had almost written
Hundreds others all over our
land to-day doing identically the same
thing? Aye, there's the rub! Doing
just this same thing-allowing their
names to be put in "boards ofdirectors"
that do not direct allowing them
selves to be advertised as the guaran-
tors of the honesty and sound business
principles of concern of whose affairs
they really know next to nothing.
These good gentlemen may say what
they please, but when the names Of
aboard of directors" is published the
impression made OH the public mind is
something after this order: "See this
list of names; these men are successful
business men; reliable and upright
citizens; earnest and consistent Church
members; hence, because they are
directing this concern our money is
safe in their hands; they guarantee
the soundness of the institution, and
the safety of the funds" And has not
the public perfect right to argue
thus? and is not this the effect in
tended to be producedy Else why pub
lish the list of directors at all?
Now, if this case in New York city
was an isolated case, again we could
have nothing to say. But, on the con-
trary, it is quite the reverse. 1t is on
ly an instance of what is far too paln-
fully frequent and common. And not
only as to banks, but as to many other
kinds OF institutions. The present
writer, though by no manner Of means
CHASING himself with hat venerable
class, our old citizens can recall many
similar cases. In a certain Virginia
city, not a very great while ago, a
hourishing national bank was wrecked,
and its depositors made heavy losers
by the dishonesty OF one employee,
and its directory" suspected no dan
ger till the crash came! Still, the de-
positors had supposed that as they
were the "directors" they were "direct-
ing! Not many years since, in GER
tain North Carolina city, a supposedly
aourishing national bank suddenly
went to absolute ruin, to the utter as
tonishment of its board of "direceors,"
who had allowed two dishonest Off
cial to make way with all the funds,
while they were not directing" But
the trouble is by no means confined to
banks and banking, but extends in
every direction, even into ecclesiasti-
cal affairs. Some of our readers may
recall how, not many years ago, the
trusted employee of a missionary so.
ciety made way with the funds and
spent them in high living, while the
managers were failing to manage"
the affairs committed to them. And
more than one unsavory parish scan-
dial has owed the possibility of its eX-
istence to the failure Of vestry to do
the work that the acceptance Of the
position of vestryman was tacit
promise to do.
| Now, the point We want to call al
tention to is that these troubles, in the
large majority of cases, occur because
certain good gentlemen accept posi-
tions OF responsibility, and then fail to
realiz, that responsibility, and fulfill
the consequent duty that the position
entails. And we want to emphasize
this further fact, that, in good con-
science, no man has right to accept
a position unless he intends TO carry
out the duties of the position. Good
gentlemen, understand clearly that
your names are carrying weight and
influencing your fellows who trust in
your integrity and business capacity,
and you have no right to abuse that
confidence. We, the "uninitiated" in
business affairs, are trusting our little
all to your intelligence and integrity
and capacity, and you have no right to
neglect your duty and delegate your
responsibility to some hireling, and
then when the crash comes plead you
knew nothing of it. You should know
of it. You are there for that purpose.
And failure to manage" or "direct"
| =; . I.oo nh of oonfiIanna IN fhOcn who