The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-03-02
IsIr WORTH wHILE7


"a good name is rather TO be eho-
sen than great riches
John 4. Mccall, Of the New York
Life Insurance Company.
senator Mitchell, of Oregon.
Thomas G. Plat, Senator from New
York.
Chauncey NJ. Depew, Senator rom
New York. .,
John d. Rockefeller, standard oil
magnate.
Would you swap your fair name
good citizen and honest man, for tha'
of anv Of these? Not if you are an
honest man. Only if your character
is as rotten as theirs.
Just year or two ago, and John a.
McCalls picture was hung III nearly
every New York Life Insurance Office
in America synonym Of honor ana
honesty. Of progressiveness and splen-
did principle. To this writer came
an offer just eighteen months ago
from the New York Life-and there
came A personal letter from John a.
Mccall. telling Of the splendid name
and fame Of that company. II was
flattering was it MOTTO receive a let
ter from so great and good man.
Yet today he lies in his grave convict
ed As a CRATER and a betrayer OF WI
dows and orphans. What contrast
between then-and now . Was II
worth while, think you?
To be a United States Senator Is
great honor, is it not? But look al
Mitchell. Of Oregon. Honored by his
people he fell, he stole, he lied and
convicted in the courts he died. Was
il worth while?
Thomas G. Platt has lived in the
hmelight Of prominence through the
years. Today he is tottering TO his
grave. dishonored, unlOyed, hateda
despised. He has used his great gifts
for selfish ends. At his last birthday
he pathetically stated that his life
had been mistake, and thatif he had
il TO live over. he would live it differ
entity. All, the pity Of it. Remorse'
that nemesis that overtakes the wrong
doer in the end, is gnawing at his con-
science before he dies. Was 1t worth
while?
And Chauncey Depew, lighthearted,
laughing Chauncey, with never care.
The paragon Of wit and humor and
social standing. The exemplar OF
young men, whose golden words OF
advice were eagerly drunk in by lis
tening thousands. a presidential pos
sibility. a senatorial certainty, petted
and fiattered, a Yale god, the acme OF
what even New York could do to show
the world a man. Today a convicted
CRATER and tool, with never a smile on
his lips, never word to say or joke
TO tell. Tainted with dishonor and
dishonesty, aging rapidly, now that
the people can gaze on his soul, he
drags out his days despised. Was 1t
worth while2
Where is John d. Rockefeller? ohun-
ming the law, he hides. Master OF
millions of dollars and Ofmen, he runs
like a eur from - what? From the
majesty Of that law which for decades
he has broken and trampled upon.
Not in all history has man so cor
rupted business life or so perslstently
taught betrayal and disloyalty and
the coldblooded dealing Of stacked
cards.
The Sunday school superintendent
the generous helper ofchurches, and
founder Of a University to educate
youth. The swelling tide Of hatred
born of his outrages will sweep HIM
from the earth the most eXecrated
man that ever i'm this country followed
a business career. If il be that in the
future world those we have wrOnged
will face us as accusers and before
God Ominpotent, the even-handed
Holder Of the scales, point at US the
finger Of truth and recite to Him their
wrongs inflicted by our deeds, what
an army will face Rockefeller! No
money then to build church orfound
a University. No bribed jurors, or fat
attorneys, or easy-going judges regard |
ing lightly the stern necessity ofequal
rights to all. No fear aud no favor
Only the rightlng Of wrongs. Would |
you swap places with him, man Of
honor?
And with all his millions and hi' |
power, do you think he is happy a.
he desceuds the of life towards The
valley Of the shadow Of death? And |
do you think it has been worth while?
A good name is rather TO be chosen
than great riches.