The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-07-01


In the wssknslso American stand
ards OF srsatusss ana il mot checked
will ultimately undermine American
character NY point ~ that American
character" means your character and
mine. and Il does seem. to me that tho
question Of the day 10 ...What are we
going to do about it7.'
My answer 10 suggested by your COM
mencement.
We must all 60. where you are,
Back to Beginnings.' .''>
I think that the simplest reform
tho hardest, but the nrst-is to make
up our minds not to do ourselvesthose
things which the other. man is doing,
but which are wrong.
The next reform Is to reform the
other man. = s:s \ ..::. :-.@S.: III.
This is tho reverse Of tho usual pro-
cess. The common procedure Is to try
first to correct the others. But we fail
because we soon see that If we push
that sort OF reform to the last analy-
sis, we interfere with our own graft:
or. II our Fundamental honesty is brave
enough. we realize that we are not At
othrow the first stone.
So I say that we older men and wo-
men must 60 back to beginnings
and. as for the younger men and wo-.
men, you whose commencement day
this. you who are at the beginnings
to you I say: Stay there. You can
throw stones. Throw them. and throw
them starlight and throw them hard.
and above all things do keep your
selves. At to throw, them always.
Don't pose don't be frauds. Be gen.
uine. Bo true to yourselves. Be your
selves. Seek what you really want.
Take no course in life simply because
others take It. Put on no mans coat
because 1t is becoming to him. Make
your point of view your standpoint.
Don't proclaim it as the hub Of tho
universe; 1t is only a. firing line. but
stand on it and ire.
Don't chase the easy dollar. Money
is good, but money will come II you
do your work well. Give the world
full value, and the world will prize and
pay you for the character your honest
effort will have developed. And even
the bad world appreciates character.
Did you not notice how a few weeks
ago one Of the great financial institu-
searched this country to find man Of
lty Of character?
Get that character and reputation.
get for yourselves the benefit Of the
exercise Of mind and body that co,nes
from earning money, but let your dol
lars be but tho evidence of the recog-
nized value Of your work in the world.
Having that, however, having char
acter, require 1t. Of others. Help to
create a demand for honesty. Having
done your duty as a man or as a wo-
man to yourselves, do your duty to the
rest of us-do tho work of a member
OF society, Of a citizen Of the world.
In a free democratic nation such as
ours we7you who are at your COM
mencement and who have come back
here to the beginnings-I tell you that
we need men and women who not only
will not lie, or steal, or cheat, or bride.
but will make crimes criminal and
fraud and graft q disgrace. even
though they are successful. even
though the wrongdoers live next door,
belong to our club, 30 to our church.
That may not in any wise be mis-
uuO0E8tOOU Sdy " yON o8 aka SAAAS SA4A0
indictment of our business life IL not
based upon an inherent, incurable de-
feet, In our American character. but,
on the contrary. these evils are an out
growth Of our American strenuostty in
the riotous race for tho easy dollar
and the many dollars. wish to dis
tinctly avoid leaving the impression up
on your minds that an unduly large
proportion Of the American people are
of tho class which I have sought to
call to account. Rather let me. In
conclusion, point you to the silver lin
ing to this cloud; emphasizing the fact
that although the indictment IL well
founded. nevertheless, we may rest as
sured that in the hearts of the genu-
inc men and women, the plain people
as we'll as those who have had the
advantages Of higher education, and
will not exclude those who have had
the advantages, or disadvantages, as
you may choose, OF a competency, there
is an appreciation Of the Importance
OF character; that the rank and fle
of the American people do not believe
In, but stand for right living and
conscience undimmed and unfettered
by business environments.
Therefore, right and honesty will tri-
umph; a saturnalia Of graft and an era
of grab will ind itself short lived.
eliminated by tho uplifting influences
Of educated men and women of charac-
ter, a contamination which will re-
ceive fresh vigor and renewed impulse
from those who today are back to be-
ginnings." \
You and have enough Of the opti-
mist in our makeup, we have suffi-
cient faith in the ultimate destiny Of
our country, to feel convinced that
there is no indication Of the presence
of an ineradicable disease in our ma
tional life. In fact. have spoken thus
plainly because am convinced that
cure is possible and that this cure will
come through the efforts Of men and
women such as you.
Wherefore, ladies and gentlemen of
Oberlin, 1875, start right. steer right,
.<o., al orA-rnak> tia rest Of UA