Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-25

world, the merchant, the business man,
hes become, If not the superior, at least
the equal of the tiller of the soil and
the maker of things of beauty. Some
of the greatest men the world honors
began life In trade. Plato sold oil on
his way to Egypt to defray the ex-
penses of his travel. Since his day,
many men can say that the early years
spent In the hardship Of q small busi-
ness have ended in tl.eir success at the
bar and on the bench and i'm positions
of honor in the city and state.
1t has to be recognized that this Is
the mercantile age and that business
and trade are now controlling elements
in the life of all nations. Our material
progress is largely due to the courage
and perseverance of our men of busi-
ness who have utilized the forces at
hand and have brought about the great
development of the country. It Is un-
fortunate to hear at times certain pos
SCISSORS of wealth sneering at trade and
reaching out to the creation of an ex-
elusive set who would ostracise those
in business as not worthy of a place
among the chosen 400" The world
recognizes that the honor line of wealth
and social position runs principally
through the business circles which have
made 1t possible for wealth to be ac-
cumulated.
Man Behind Real Power
In the business world we hear much
of power and energy, but the real pow
er In life is the man behind the works
who plans and executes, who harnesses
the forces and controls the currents of
nature and by his integrity produces
lasting results which tend toward the
betterment of mans condition. @The
IN ic
power, for it is only under the influ-
ence of responsibility that power is
truly effective for good. The worthiest
product of our civilization is the man
of integrity, whose trained mind solves
the problems disturbing us, plans our
material and commercial growth, lays
the foundations of our cities, gives op-
portunities for labor and independence
brings comforts to men and makes life
worth living, adding by the usefulness
of his own life to the sum total Of
mans happiness. At times it may seem
that mere wealth rules, but in final
analysis intellect is the supreme mas
ter and intellect guided by integrity al
ways rules for good. Integrity is the
soul of character, it is high mindedness
truthfulnesS. Business integrity is
moral question and reduces itself to
the morality of the Individual. The old
saying, Honesty Is the best policy" is
true, though policy as frequently un-
derstood does not sound well because
there seems to be absent from it the
ring of truth. Honesty begets conf
dence and confidence is the business
capital Of the world. The duke of Well
ington said of Sir Robert Peel: "I never
knew man in whose truth and justice
1 had greater confidence" The Greeks
called honor price," value others set
upon man, not that which he set
upon himself, yet we know that the
price we set upon ourselves is frequent
y that which others accept. The axiom
that whatever pays is honest" is not
so true as that the Honest man pays
what he owes" The common feeling
that many cheat in business and that
successful business is dependent upon
dishonest methods are far off cries
from integrity in business and if gener-
ally accepted would soon destroy all
confidence.
The value of the individual is en-
hanced by his development, by his
moral upbuilding, by his sense of con-
sicence and obedience to it. 1t is as
true today as it was true when said
that no one has ever trusted in God
and in himself and has been confound-
ed. Dishonest men thrive for time,
comes dishonesty goes in thousand
unseen ways learing after it the mark
of the curse under which it came
Wealth is in fields and houses as well
as in gold. "He is worth millions"
is only saying of him what may be
said of cattle and material things.
The highest tribute to a mans integ-
rity is to be able to say: He is a good
man, high-minded, honest in his busi-
and what "a
honestly acquired; his business has not
been built upon the ruins of others,
but is made of honest deeds. A COR
rect life is the highest wealth of the
world and can never be balanced by
any amount of coin.
Business Man Needs Faith
A man of business needs faith, faith
in himself, faith in his business, and
above all faith in his God and his
fellow men. 1t needs to be practical
working faith which expresses itself
in energy and results. Disraeli says:
1--WE put too much faith in system and
look too little in men, The industry
of the individual and his goodness in
life are the sources of greatness,
whether in national life or in business.
We rise no higher than the source and
let us not forget the source is the
individual man.
Success in business is dependent upon
knowledge, application, energy and
perseverance. 1t is largely due to at
tention to detail, to the watching of
results, to an untiring energy and
patience, and to faith in ones work.
The successful business man aims to
become master of his business. de-
voted to it, student of it, in order
to make a success of it. Failure comes
when men neglect their business busy
themselves with things that interfere
with their business and trust to others