The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-25
DIAMOND DOESN'T
+ SPELL HONESTY
&C. ". PICKELI.
Insurance Managers Talk Before
Detroit Credit Mems Association
Bristles With Epigrams.
&C. ". pICKELL.

Every man Is entitled 10 prove him
self worthy OF a limited credit aside
rom any financial responsibility he
may or may not possess" said Charles
Warren Pickell, Michigan manager Oh
The Massachusetts Mutual Life lnsuf-
auce Co, in the course of an interest
ing address On 1.-The moral element IN
credits" before the Detroit Credit
Mer's association at the February
diuIfer In the Pontchartrain Thursday
evening His talk bristled with per
Trent business epigrams and made @
very favorable impression on his heai'
NAs general proposition. Mr.. PICK
ell continued "a constructive credit,
based upon the presumption that a
man Is honest is better than
destructive credit based on the as
sumption that he has no money hence
he will not pay
III yoi will pardon suggestion
what's the objection to a card indet
labeled moral responsibility as ap-
piled 10 credit? When an unknown
man wants goods or money, let him ap-
ply for credit on n printed form as ne
would for a pension, patent or
government POSITION Furnish him
With a regular blank and require
plenty ~ references. II is very APP
parent. in making an estimate OF any
one. that single question has bu'
small Significance. But from the al
swers to all YOU could PROFOUND, you
wonld be- able 10 FIJI ont his card. Goa
structing "A rating both financially AMI
morplly that would be close TO the
truth
The impulse on the part OF the
purchaser 20 pay because It's wrong
not 10 Is factor i'm credit quite as
Fundamental and more essential than
Tie financial test. The training OF TINS
inward principle is a process. child
reared In home where the inieres,
ON che mortgage has 10 be paid or the
family suffer dire consequences.
whore the bills are thoughtfully dis
cussed and honorably met every
month. where help is punctilionsly
paid OF every Saturday night for value
received in labor. where the life insur-
ance premiums must he met To con
tinue the protection where weekly
church dues are silent opponents or
obligations 10 a Higher Power, soon
learns that attached to each DEBT con
iracted 10 moral obligation when
can BE- satisfied only by prompt pay
ment. when due, in full
II desire 10 pay high tribute 20 the
tonal effects on credit of the thou
sands OF savings banks throughout the
land \ man with a savings bank ac-
count seldom repudiates "A debt. Ana
no mightier contributor TO LOTT
sense OF honor In all matters Of this
n "a "A
condemns the wrong and praises the
righteous act.
Mr.. Pickell drew an interesting con
tr2st between the honest young bus,-
ness man, seeking credit TO extend bis
business and denied II because his
assets are regarded as insufficient. ana
the debonair manufacturer. who can
get unlimited credit on watered stock
as collateral and whose obligation Is
later charged TO profit and loss when
le goes to smash
"A shirt front half concealed by
four.carat sparkler is no guaranty Fl
righteousness he added.
Another OF his epigrams was:
Always ship goods with a bill Of
fading attached C. q. D. to the man
whc Is cutting a wide swath' with
small scythe"
An interesting discussion on Mer-
camille agency reports" was conducted
Under the direction OF Charles w Gar
raft. chairman Of the committee on
mercantile agency reports II was led
nv F. w. Miner. OF r c. Dun & Co.
and Manager G.. F. w Reid. OF the
Bradstreet agency. Miss Mas rem.
dered several vocal selections.