Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-26
NObODY'S BUSINESS
CONTEMPT FOR The PEOPLE OF
QUASI PUBLIC CORPORATIONS
Old Fashioned Rules of Business
Morality do Not Apply to the
Champions of "NatiOnal Honor"
and TO the Defenders of the "BuSi-
ness interests" of the Country.

ness interests" of the Country.
A representative of the Philadelphia
North American, in his report of the
meeting Of the directory OF the Lehigh
Valley Railroad company, which meet
ing was held in December, 1892, said:
Beauveau Bore, one of the directors
who attended the special board meeting,
was asked for information as to what had
been done.
"There was nothing of any importance
or OF outside interest,"" he replied.
"That being as you say, Mr.. Borie,
would it not be to the best interest OF
the company and all concerned to let it
be known just what the financial matters
acted upon were?"
"There has been too much idle talk
already. 1t is buzz. buzz, buzz, and
nothing after all"
"But, Mr.. Borie, the public may think
in view OF what is talked around that
something of importance was acted upon,
a nd this belief, when the facts are other.
wise, as you say, might result harm.
fully"
"Well, let them 60 to hell. 1t is no.
body's business what was done, any
more than it would be ii l paid five cents
more for newspaper"
That was merely another way of stat.
ing the opinion evidently held by Van
derbilt when he contributed TO American
literature the classic: "The public be
ID"
Whether it ia the statement OF Wander
bilt who is entitled to rank as a pioneer
aMong the trustees OF God" or the
statement of Borie, it is, as Mr.. Lincoln
referring to what he called the arguments
OF thrones, said "the same old serpent.
The same contempt shown Tor public
opinion by Vanderbilt and Borie is felt
evidently by the frenzied fnanciers anc
the great insurance managers who
manipulate the funds OF the policy
holders for the benefit OF the private ex
chequer of insurance officials and theil
friends.
Like those who in all the ages of the
world have advanced arguments in favol
of king craft, these men "besti ode 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: "Tht
public be d-d!" Reminded that the
public had some rights in his time, Borie
said: "Let them 60 to hell! II is no
bodv's business"
1t is "nobody's business" that money
contributed in the form OF insurance
premiums is used for the benefit Of a
political party whose leaders may be &c
pended upon to sanction a continuance
of frenzied financial policies. 1t is mo
body's business" that the money belong
ing to poicy-holders is used in specula
ton in order that enormous profits may
be gathered by coterie OF insurance
officials. 1t is "nobody's business" thai
United States senators traffic in the
great prestige conferred upon then
through their official position. 1t il
''nobody's business" that fraud and cor
ruption are carried on in the various de
partments OF the federal government
where contracts are to be let to those
whe will pay the largest bonus to the
officers in charge rather than to those
who will perform the work at the small
est cost TO the public treasury. 1t il
"nobody's business" that corporation
chiefs conspire in restraint Of trade, vio'
late the anti-rebate law and obtain mo-
nopo!ies upon the necessities Of life.
The Common rules of morality do moi
apply to the champions of "nationa
honor" and to the defenders of "tht
business interests of the country" Il
would seem that these men are above al
law-not only the law OF The land bu
the law OF God. What the public may
think of their conduct is Of no import
ance. The opinion OF the plunderec
policy. holders is unworthy OF considera
tion. These men may violate the trus
reposed ir lem; they may grow rcf
through misappropriation Of funds con
tided to their care; they may violate th'
law whenever the opportunity to gail
through such violation presents itself
and whenever it is suggested that the.
be held to account they seek to hide be
hind the business interests" OF tn
country; and all too often they are p, j
tected because men in uthoTity Civ
serious consideration to the 'hreat tina
prosecution Of these lawless men woul,
result in commercial disaster.
The Herald twice a week tells It all