New-York tribune., 1907-11-03
TRAINING THLEEES.
By Judge Kenssaw Mountain IAaa1.

A corporation a business house. so fazse as
the law is concerned. is different rom an IN
dividual. If the individual IS honest he has the
respect Of his friends and the public with which
he comes in contact. He need have no fear OF
the law If he is dishonest. II he steals and de-
frauds, the law is there to that he stops his
evil practices and that he is punished. II IS the
same with honest and dishonest corporations
and business houses.
a guilty corporation arraigned before the
court is the same footing the guilty indi-
viduaL Both belong 10 the criminal classes
Law has been violated and that violation has to
be punished. If laws made and then per-
mitted 10 be broken the state OF affairs result
ing would be anarchy. This is obvious 70 any
one If. then, at the outset II Is borne clearly
in mind that dishonesty by a corporation is the
same as dishonesty by an individual. that the
commerce statute IS on the same roofing before
the court the who COunterfettS the coin
or steals from the mails. the necessity of hon.
esty in business Will not be difficult for the
of business to understand.
So much for the strictly legal aspect OF the
case. The moral aspect deepens. if anything
the offence of the corporation. An individual
violates law. and the contamination ends with
thar individual The carrier who steals from
the mails is not. by that theft. making fellow
criminals of other carriers But the business
house which adopts commercial policy OF dis
honesty is paving the road 10 moral destruction
for score or perhaps hundred OF its en-
ployes.
discharge of their duties as employees. these
men are made to violate laws. There is
malicious intent in what they do; If conscience
pricks it is soOthed with the reasoning ti'aJ
the fault is higher up" that il is their funda-
mental duty loyal employees TO do as told,
that il would be rank presumption indeed for
them to argue the right and wrong of their
employers policies. Yet despite this. these men
are outlaws; they commit acts which statutes
specifically say they shall not commit and iS-
norancc cf the law. is well understood is no
defence This is the saddest feature of dis
honesty in business.
In a recent prosecution il was shown that \
corporation had accepted lower rate from \
railroad over which il shipped than was granted
To its competitors. This q violation OF law
What steps were taken 10 hide 4 from public
sishte II was all brought out A1ailrOad clerk.
a subordinate in a big business cOncern-and' a
bright clean-Cut young fellow he looked. too
admitted in court that he had made this viola
ton. or at least the covering Of IT, possible
This clcau-Cut young fellow working for a
salary and with no design in his head other than
to render good. capable fruitful service 70 his
EN- DIOyers. had made out fraudulent bills OF
lading He had juggled with fgures-and made
them lie. Perhaps il didn't appeal 70 him that
wav but that young man had ceased 10 ne
honest A dishonest commercial policy by his.
employers had called for and received the sac
rifce of his individual honor
II is conceivable that men in judging. OF a
court. might take this neral aspect into con-
sideration II is crime against society TO
steal: may il not be greater crime to make
thieves of others American Business Man Tor
November.