The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-08
HONESTY ALWAYS
IS BEST POLICY
CHICAGO MAN SAYS THAT EVERY
MAN MUST KEEP HIS WORD
THE MINUTE THAT lT BECOMES
WORTHLESS so DOES ne AND
rs LOOKED UPON AS DANGER
GUS.

Sample Case: It sometimes occurs
in some quarters. but it is regarded by
some as part Of good business, to
break faith with a person, house or
institution when 1t may seem that a
disadvantage has been incurred in
some buiness transaction. Such q pro-
cedure may seem to be a warrantable
case where little sharp practice" can
be considered as modern adjunct of
success, and yet it is as certain as
fate itself that tricks" of that kind.
even under apparent sanction OF trade,
are bound to -recoil at some time upon
the heads of those guilty of so traug-
parent violation of sound business
morals or ethics. There can De no pos
sfble successful defense Of It, and any
attempt Of 1t usually rests upon false
assumptions or promises, that prove
eventual boomerang, no matter how
prominent a firm may he or how high
1t may be sailing in financial prosperity
for the time being under It's peculiar
tactics. On this subject of strict OBJ
servance of ones word, agreement or
promise, whether verbal or in writing,
leading paper like The Chicago
Tribune has these well-uttered sem
timents, penned by Herbert Kaufman.
The man who doesn't keep his word
has to keep it eventually because no.
body will take it. The moment It be-
comes worthless so does he. He is
looked upon as a dangerous member
of society and a menace to his fellows
his bad faith is sure to involve other
people i'm trouble.
He is regarded as one degree worse
than the common garden variety of
liar, because it is possible to tell a lie
that is harmless. But a promise can't
be defaulted without annoying. incon-
veniencing or hurting those who be-
Iieved in it. He is a;coward in that he
does not stand up and take the respon-
sibiltty of his own acts. Even If he
does possess ability his talents in
time become useless, because he can't
find chance to employ them. The
world gets afraid of him-he lacks the
greatest of all strengths-reliability
He is a human quicksand-a dangerous
spot in the path of life. One by one
opportunities are denied him, and
without opportunity even genius can
not succeed. .
He can no more evade the penalty OF
his constant faithlessness than a. for
! ger can keep at his tricks and out of
Jail. There isn't so very much diff
| ference between the two-one passes
worthless checks on the banks and the
other on the confidence of the COM
munity. He may delude himself with
! the sophistry that only written agree
ments are binding. but good faith j.
older than penmanship and really hon
orable men reduce their contracts &c
paper, not because they r, gard their
word less obligatory than their bond
but merely to put themselves on rec
ord in case Of absence or death.
The more men value their stability
the less ready they are to pledge 1t
They carefully consider every PROPOSE
ton, realizing that once they have
committed themselves to a course OF
action personal disadvantage cannot
justify -fulfillment at the expense
of others. Aside from the broader
question of morality, there is one oil
self interest underlying their code
they know that as soon as their WORD
becomes discounted their notes will
cease to be. Credit is the most vita
force in business, and a promise break
er cannot get credit
Single handed no man ever became
a power. Leaders must have a follow
ling and he PROMISE breaker never be
Icomes leader because men Will
ability ar not willing to throw 1t ava!
In the service of those whom they dis
NyT1St