Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-09-19
IS HUMAN WEAKNESS
THE DESIRE TO GET SOMETHING
FOR NOTHING.
IGNlS FATUUS TO AVOID
One Cause That Has Led to the Down.
fall of Many-FaIlacy 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
that he was owned by the railroads.
bought by fayors and Instead OF repre-
senting the interests Of the people
who sent him to his high place in
the nations councils, preferred to rep
resent the corporations that made 1t
possible for him to ride over rail-
roads without cost. 1t Is only a dem
o~nstration Of human inclination to get
something for nothing.
The member of a state legislature
was accused of showing special atten-
ton to legislation favorable to the
railroads and corporations. He was
charged with riding on passes; and in
fact 1t became known that his prin-
cipal supporters, too, rode free over
the railroads. Another illustration OF
the human desire to ecu something
for nothing.
The mayor of a city regularly occu-
pied a box at the leading theater;
handed out a 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 a be seen
awaiting their turn to get a small
supply of -four, 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 s~elf-respect behind because
of the desire to ecure 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
inant trait in evidence to show the
weakness of the individual Is the
struggle to get something for moth
ing. 1t is based upon a knowledge Of
this fraility Of humankind that some
great business enterprises are built
Wonderful bargains are advertised
and the masses rush to buy, without
calm reasoning in the matter Of any
comparisons of value. Good business
judgment Is cast in the background
by the madness to get something fol
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 thu
others who have certain objects tt
gain. 1t is always the promise helt
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 Il
magic In the something for nothing
deal. 1t is a bait that catches peopl,
in every rank and walk Of life. /
often is the cause of the downfall 0
men who have all the abilities to sue
coed. 1t is a fallacy that tends tc
ward evil. There can nothing b
gained without adequate compenss
ton. THE something for nothing |
an ignis fatuus that the wise wi
avoid.
D. M. CARR