The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-07-12
BACK TO BEGINNINGS"
James B. Dill, a New York LAWYER. dis
cusses Present Day Evils.

Oberlin, O., June 28.-James B.
Dill, prominent lawyer of New York
city, today delivered the annual com.
mepcement address at Oberlin Col.
lege, the topic of which was, sBavk
to Beginnings" Mr.. Dill spoke Of
the postgraduate education the stu.
dents would likely get from the world,
and from his own experience what, as
educated men and women, they would
encounter in future attempts to edu.
cate themselves in the world, or,
more accurately, in the worlds at
tempt to educate them.
Mr.. Dill spoke in part as follows:
A large part of our modern pros per-
ity consists of an overproduotion of
fraud end sham. The crisis is acut,.
A feeling Of distrust is e.owing
throughout the country. Many
branches Of financial business have
been in one way or another taken
possession of by the interruptions
for the purpose of deceivihg the un-
wary.
Trust companies have been made
the mediums Of the fotation of spe-
cious and fraudulent promotions.
Some life insurance companies, the
highest and what should be the most
sacred form Of investment, are, as
We all know now, oonduits through
which the savings Of the policyholders
are steered into operations for specu-
lative purposes.
Credit and good faith, not money,
are the basis Of business. Good. or
bad, our modern prosperity is founded
on public confidence. Take that away
and the whole fabric falls.
Well, We are taking it away.
Distrust--the rust which corrodes
public con6dence-is spreading in the
land. Suspicion is taking the place
of belief, sceptism is taking the place
of pune faith; many are inclined to
view an honest investment with q
feeling of doubt and fear; many re-
fuse to invest in new enterprises, be-
cause they prefer to place their funds
II savings banks. trust companies,
insurance companies, where they
think their savings are safe. And
there also, we are hearing, these saw
ings are used by those in control for
private speculation. We hear Alright.
These facts make every. educated man
and woman stop and ponder, as I bid
you stop and ponder now. But what
want you to see Is how human these
faults are; how natural, how they
come home to all Of us; and how We
you and I--aro the people to blame,
the people WHO alone can check the
evil.
But note that this Indictment Of
our business life is not based upon an
Inherent, incurable defect in Ameri-
can character.
IF this were true it would be use.
less to discuss the matter further, for.
however keenly we might rebel against
the situation, We must perforce either
tamely enhmi. or je;n ;n .ke .iet &c.
easily acquired wealth Of which these
evils are the outgrowth.
The fact is that the unprecedented
material growth Of the country, the
resulting creation Of immense private
fortunes, the bringing together Of
great aggregations Of corporate capi-
tai, industrial combinations and rail.
road mergers, ell have tended to cen.
ter the attention Of the, people upon
great financial deeds and to rank men
accordingly, causing the; people 70
forget elementary virtues / ,o,f private
individual life.
The effsst upon the great men
themselves presupposing that they
are Of the same honest makeup as
the average American of turning
their entire energies and attention to |
the tremendous projects possible only
In this country Of tremendous possibii-
itles, has been to cause them to forget
the same elementary virtues lin their
business life, however carefully they
may attempt % adhere TO them inl |
their religious, family Of d. social rela.
tiops. 81; !;
80 in 9 apirit Of optimistio rather.
than pessimistio analysts We look atl
the u recognized evils Ia ons national |
Ge and trace, i We may nnlay, their DO. |
sinnings. IS SIS
The early tenn tation that comes To- |
an educated man Oh woman isS To- |