The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-22
"LET THEM GO TO HE'LL"

Shortly after recent meeting of
the directors of the Lehigh Valley
railroad a reporter of the Philadelphia
American called to see Mr. Borie, one
of the directors, and asked for lnfor-
nation of the action of the directors.
He was Informed that nothing of pub
lie interest had been done-'it is buzz,
buzz, buzz and nothing at all-too
much idle talk already" The reporter
persisted in a desire to get the news,
and said:
But, Mr.. Borie, the public may
think in view of what is talked
around that something of importance
was acted upon. and this belief, when
the facts are otherwise, as you say,
might result harmfully.
To that suggestion, made in the
American belief in publicity, Director
Bore replied:
well, let them go to hell. 1t is
nobody's business what was done, any
more than it would be if l paid five
cents more for newspaper"
Commenting upon this frank
method of giving expression to what so
many directors who tax the people
more than the State and National
Governments, the Commoner says:
THAT was merely another way of
stating the opinion evidently held by
Vanderbilt when he contributed to
American literature the classic: The
public be id"
Vanderbilt who is entitled to rank as
Il pioneer among the trustees of God
or the statement of BOrie, 1t is, as
Mr.. Lincoln, referring to what he call
ed the arguments of thrones, said the
same old serpent The same contempt
shown for public opinion by Wander
bilt and Borie is felt, evidently, by
the frenzied financiers and the great
insurance managers who manipulate
the funds of the policyholders for the
benefit of the private exchequer of in
surance officials and their friends.
Like those who in all the ages of
the world have advanced arguments
in favor of kng-craft, these men be
strobe the necks of the people, not
that they wanted to do it. but because
the people were better off for being
ridden
Confronted with the protests of the
masses in his day Vanderbilt said:
The public be id Reminded that
the public had some rights in his time,
Borie said Let them go to hell! 1t
is nobody's business
1T is 'nobOdy'S business that money
contributed in the form of insurance
premiums is used for the benefit of Il
political party whose leaders may be
depended upon to sanction a continu-
ance of frenzicd financial policies. 1t
is 'nobody's business that the money
belonging to policyholders is used in
speculation in order that enormous
profits may be gathered by coterie
of insurance officials. 1t is 'nobodys
business that United States Senators
traffic in the great prestige conferred
upon them through their official posi-
ton. 1t is 'nobody's business that
fraud and corruption are carried on
in the various departments of the Fed
eral Government where contracts are
to be let to those who will pay the
largest bonus to the officers in charge
rather than to those who Will perform
the work at the smallest cost to the
public treasury. 1t is 'nobody's busi-
ness that corporation chiefs conspire
in restraint of trade, violate the anti
rebate law and obtain mOnopolieS
upon the necessities of life.
THE common rules of morality do
not apply to the champions of ma
tiOnal honor and to the defenders of
the business interests of the country.
1t would seem that these men are
above all law-not only the law of the
land but the law of God. What the
public may think of their conduct is
of no importance. The opinion of
the plundered policyholders is un-
worthy of consideration. These men
may violate the trust reposed in them;
they may grow rich through misap-
preparation of funds confided to their
care; they may violate law whenever
the opportunity to gain through such
violation presents itself; and whenever
it is suggested that they be held to
account they seek to hide behind the
business interests of the country;
and all too often they are protected
because men in authority give serious
consideration to the threat that prose-
cutiOn of these lawless men would re-
suit in commercial disaster