The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-29
EpoM OTHER PENS

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HONESTY
II commercial traveller returned
from a trip and included In his ex-
pense account, fare to Cleveland $3.50,
when he had, in fact. only paid $3.50,
the firm would be very apt to give him
his walking papers instanter. If a leg
islator should travel 100 miles for
which he paid Sc, and then collected
from the state $3.50. would he be Just
as unfair and dishonest as that COM
mercial traveller, sOr does anybody
suppose that there is one rule for honor
and honesty for legislator and quite
another for a business man? Or that
what would be a steal for a travelling
for the public official? There is no rea-
son in the world for an intelligent man
to get his ideas confused upon this sub
tect Honesty is the same thing every
where. Pope says:
Honor and shame from no condition
rise:
Act we'll your part. there all the honor
lies.
1t makes no difference If man holds
an official position-the duty upon him
to act fair and square is as pressing
as it is upon the man in the humblest
calling Any different view encourages
corruption and destroys patriotism. 1t
Is the worst calamity that this coun-
try faces today. 1t does seem that the
of money from the sweat and toll and
self-denial of the people. is looked upon
as SO much booty, to be grabbed at in
a general scrimmage each fellow for
himself and the devil take the hind
most 1t is a terrible state of affairs.
It is as great a menace to this repub-
lie as secession ever was; and the pub
lie sentiment should be aroused to this
fact. The spirit of our citizenship
should be so strong and pure as not
to tolerate for a moment the sem
blance of plumber. The honor OF a
public man is as sacred as the honor
Of family.-Ohio State Journal.
49,
MANS OPERATING EXPENSES.
There is a certain sort of so-called
political economy which always greatly
worries whenever any change of pro-
duction or expenditure is proposed.
Disregarding the fact that the largest
portion of human effort is expended on
procuring what are styled the necessi-
ties of life, and that any reduction in
the volume of these demands will cor
respondingly tighten the loads impos-
ed, they, like Demetrius the silver
smith, see only the gain whereby to
make living in such operations, and
think if these be 'curtailed men will
come to want. Such people argue that
or clothing bought or shelter required
or change to simpler, less exacting
standards of production would mean
industrial loss and hardship.
Such changes all spell trouble for
those directly affected, but they do the
greatest good for the greatest number.
Otherwise they could not be accom-
plished. It is a vicious and mistaken
idea to encourage expenditure for the
mere purpose of making trade good.
This is also that policy which encour-
ages the presence~ of gamblers and
sports and the wide-open town because
these keep money moving. The more
economically people live. in the broad
sense of the word, the better, not mere
| ly for their own purse and morals, but
| for the general welfare. The economy
which merely considers individuals or
even individual callings is no economy
at all. The labor that goes to sustain
| life is all lost, so far as general prog
| ress goes. The nations. the classes.
the individuals, who can cut down
their maintenance expenses without
impairing their efficiency are benefac-
tors not only Of themselves. but Of all.
l-P1ttsbur8 Post.