The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1907-09-19
IS HUMAN WEAKNESS.
THE DESIRE TO GET SOMETHING
FOR NOTHING.
AN IGNIS FATUUS TO AVOID
One Cause That Has Led to the Down.
fall of Many-FalIacy That
Ever Tends Toward
Evil.

A man who won the confidence, re-
spect and admiration Of the people OF
his state was elected to the United
States senate. Soon 1t is discovered
hat he was "owned by the railroads" /"
ought by favors and instead of repre-
enting the interests of the people
who sent him to his high place in
the nations councils, preferred to rep
resent the corporations that made it
possible for him to ride over rail-
roads without cost. It is only DEM
onstration of human inclination to get
something for nothing.
The member of state legislature
was accused of showing special atten-
tion to legislation favorable to the
railroads and corporations. He was
charged with riding on passes; and in
fact it became known that his prin-
cipal supporters, too, rode free over
the railroads. Another illustration of
the human desire to secure something
for nothing.
The mayor Of city regularly occu-
pied box at the leading theater;
handed out free street car ticket to
the conductor, enjoyed free drinks at
the bars-another example of the man
who wanted something for nothing,
and at last his greed caused him to
enter into dishonest deals that landed
him in the penitentiary.
On certain days of the month at
numerous supply depots conducted
by county and city charities, long
rows of men and women can be seen
awaiting their turn to get small
supply of flour, sugar and other neces-
saries of life. Some are helpless, de-
formed, and their looks indicate want
and misery, but there are others who
have no appearance of need. Here
again we find men and women leaving
pride and self-respect behind because
of the desire to secure something for
nothing.
" On Special sales days in the retail
districts of every large city great
crowds can be seen about the en-
frances of the great department
stores, crushing, fighting to get to
the bargain counters, all bent upon
getting something of value for little
Or nothing.
From the highest walks of life to
the lowest the all-prevailing and DOM
lnant trait in evidence to show the
weakness Of the Individual is the
struggle to get something for moth
this fraility of humankind that some
great business enterprises are built
Wonderful bargains are advertised,
and the masses rush to buylNithout
calm reasoning in the matter Of any
comparisons of value. Good business
judgment is cast in the background
by the madness to get something for
nothing.
The get-rich-Quick operator uses the
same methods to lead to his trap vic
tins with dollars as do the railroads,
the big department stores and the
others who have certain objects to
gain. It is always the promise held
out to give something for inadequate
compensation, without its equal in ex-
penditure Of money or labor that al
lows the frauds to succeed. There is
magic in the something for nothing
zeal. 1t is bait that catches people
In every rank and walk Of life. , It
often is the cause of the downfall of
men who have all the abilities to sue
ceed. 1t is fallacy that tends to-
ward evil. There. can nothing be
gained without adequate compensa-
tion. "The something for nothing is
an ignis fatuus that the wise will
avoid.
ID. M CARR.