Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-12-26

| 1t is not easy to say what honesty is
in these times, because there is so
much of the double standard in busi-
ness, just as there usually is in boys
school. 1t is as though pocket picking
| and burglary were discountenanced,
but highway robbery allowed. Per-
| haps business was always just as full
of deviousness as it is now. But there
are some contemporary facts and cir
cumstances which seem to support the
contention that business morals are
more muddled than usual. For one
thing, competition in business is un-
precedentedIy active. Generally speak
ing, the margin of profit is far smaller
than it was twenty years ago, profita-
BILE opportunities are scarcer, and the
number OF persons who are watching
to seize them is greater than it was.
Then there mas been vast growth OF
corporations, and corporations have no
souls and not much moral sense. A
corporation can't be damned. The
worst that can happen to it is to be
forced into bankruptcy. Gather six
upright men. no one of whom would
steal an umbrella, 10 ore of whom, per-
haps, would steal or even smugg!e a fur
overcoat; organize them as board of
directors, and put il to them whether
they shall disband or do what is neces-
sary. and somehow what is necessary
viii usually be done if it is practicable
Moreover. there is much 10 weaken the
respect of directors. as well as indiyidu-
ais for the product Of law-nnaking bodies
Laws are no longer handed down on stone
tahictS 10 a pi"pher on 4 smoking noun
tam They are made by elective assem-
blles. at the instance of persons con-
cernCd. Many kinds of business depend
absolutely on favorinE statutes. ard many
statutes are the result of the efforts Of
persons who expect to find Il profit il.
them The laws are not the immutable
conditions under which business IS to be
cone ihrN are part OF the apparatus for
doing business. and only immutable so
i"r% as no business influence is powerful
ehcnSh % rave them changed to suit it's
needs ara 50 laws. as laws. are rot SO
nil.th rrsTeC ted as they should be and be
caus" law and morals have been closely
aSSocittod in times. past, disregard or
evasion of law tends to lower moral
standards.
IT was said with humor and with
truth Of modern man of business that
man who will rot buy vote. nor bribe a
legiSla ture. nor co~crio-'-r-- -:-l-
statute. afford, in these days, to own q
railroad? Could he succe,.- a.
of Il great competitive trust? OF course
such q man could make a living. He
could practice medicine. or be a minister
or write stCr'cs for the n,araz:r,ee ~.
paint pictures He could even practice
law. though Possibly AT some disauvam,-
age in some particulars. end there are
many lleS of business. some of them
highly profitable in which he would not
necessarily be embarras ssed. But when il
comes 10 great competitive business with
Eihor fh uni9ns and their business agents.
isiatire Stril,ols ard all that host to cor
tend with, could he get along" If our
man respected the law. would he lax
protect him. or would it merely hold him
WEl!e his pockets Were Iified? Ii
hmitless rapacity. is admirable if il is
IN" duty OF the man with ten talents to
make them hundred. and the duty OF
the man with a hundred talents to MAKE
them hundred thousand don't see that
the degrc" of honeStv that would hinder a
man rom breaking statutes is any longer
the best business poiicy or even a practi-
cable policy--Meti opoiitan Magazine