Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-23
TWO STANDARDS.

John A. Mccall who succunbed to
tie exrays OF publicity, made the state
ment before his tragic death that he
had not knowingly wronged anyone.
And there can be no doubt that he was
sincere In this View Of his life. He
had done only what others were doing.
His business methods were the out
come OF his business training I'm
doubtedly, he considered himself justi-
fed IN making all he could, - In our
age even devout Notwithstanding
10 their own professionalism two
standards OF morals, one for sunday
and one for everyday business When
they make transactions for which the
Sunday conscience loudly condemns
them. they find peace in the thoughts
This is business II they steal
goose from their felow-men, that is
businessi" II they cut It up and
generously give part of the refuse 10
the Lord, that Is religion!" The most
disoouraging feature OF the present Is
the perverted sense OF right and wrong.
Mccall was the bright, ambitious son
Of humble citizen IN Albany. When,
but young man, he secured a position
IN the Office OF an insurance agent he
came In contact with all sorts Of char
acters, and study OF false stand
ards became almost necessity. At
that time he undoubtedly saw bribery
IN one form or another. and became
familiar with its uses. When he ad-
vanced he became the second In COM
mand OF a department which achieved
notoriety under INSCRIPTIONS chiefs.
Finally, he was drafted into service by
one Of the three great companies in
New York The disclosure Of rotten
ness IN one OF them-a disclosure with
which he had nothing to do-raised
him, as an eligible man, to its head.
His career therein conceded with
courses which brought all three TO
grief And now the end has come to
his life. II appears however that
the last act has not yet been seen.
Others are broken down IN mind and
body, and may follow the leader to an
early grave
It is but natural TO condemn the
men who have been unfaithful stewards
Of public means, hut the system that
IL responsible for their departure from
the paths of rectltude should be stlll
more condemned. The false standards
OF right and wrong that are waving on
50 many fagstaffs should be pulled
down, Before the bar of Infinite JUS
tlce It may be that the greatest GRIM
inal Is not he that has done "A wrong
act but those traitors to society who,
though themselves hidden in the shade,
through their evil plots and aspirations,
make it possible for the more daring
to commit their sins. What Is needed
Is q national refrigeration. May we
not hope that out of the gloom Of the
past few months new light may
break, revealing long-neglected moral
standards to gather around2
We agree with an eastern paper,
that "the vast mass of the people In
the country have been sane and honor
able; but they have grown morally
needless and careless they have let the
standards fall out of hands too much
occupied with individual work and
gain" We believe ut Is time to
measure moral strength against wealth
and luxury, to hold men who are trust
ed to a more rigid account and, when
they betray their trusts, to tear from
them the shreds of responsibility with
which sentmentallsts would conceal
the greatness of their offending" The
world needs good men and women
more than brilliant ones. It needs men
who are honorable In every walk of life.
especially In their business dealings,
whether honesty means financial loss
or gain.