The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-10-20
NAMES FOR SALE.

Ii was Robert f.. Lee who. shortly after the
war in which he had been impoverished, declined
to accept at $50 900 year the presidency OF an
insurance company. on the ground that he did
not feel conpeienf To perform the duties OF the
Office.
When the company replied that the offer was
not made To secure his active services but only
his name, the Southern gentleman and general
promptly replied to the insult that his name was
hot for SALE
1t is largely due TO the quality of honor and
pride which this retort indicated that the name
Of Lee Is to-day. and forever will be. impregnabie
10 assault and bright for example and as insplra-
ton
This well-worn but always valuable incident Is
called 10 mind by the contrast afforded in the
contemporary case OF another man, of smaller
calibre certainly, but one who has in long and
arduous service won the confidence and respect
Of the country
In the yellowest Of Hearst papers we find, I'M
der flaming advertisement the well known face
of Robley u. Evans, Rear Admiral, RETIRED
Fighting Bob.
In black block type and in quotations with his
name attached, is read the legend;
"7here IS more money to be made IN
on to-ddv man eteF beJ0Fe M me ms
tory Of the country"
And follows the offer of CONSOLIDATED Oil
Company which presents TO you dignlhed
plan of investment in an enterprise of solid
worth of actual and substantial merit; backed
and managed by interests of unquestloned in
iegrity".
1t develops that Roblev d. Evans is presi
dent of the venture, and the peculiar qualifica
ton OF an old seadog for the position is limited
III the statement that the proposition was made
possible only through the cooperation of in
vestors who placed their interest in the hands
Of men upon whom they can rely with absolute
confidence.
1t is, of course, just barely possible that this
company may not be the familiar stock jobbins
swindle which lis advertisement would prln,1
faete indicate it 10 be. Companies of merit have
Ill remarkable exception TO the rule. from time
to time been foated through the medium of sucl
widespread and glarng advertisements. Legiti
mate enterprises however. are rarely launch
ed III thai way that the fact that their promoters
take such method Is the red flag of caution I,
all except the dupes whose aggregate Of 'smal
savings goes finally to pay the cost of adyer
Using and leave the vuItures of finance their rich
IF rotten. meal.
But however that may be, the fact that stand
out with all prominence IS that Fighting Bob
cannot i'll the nature of things know whether tn
appeal made in his name is or is not fraud
He necessarily knows as little of oil production
and marketing the average curb-broker know
of batteship navigation. Yet, because he coul,
navigate battleship, because in dramatic mo
ments he has exhibited the lighting spirit whic
has h.. - IL. A.
lean people, this Admiral with a great name sell
the of it to the ends of what-v vat least SO ia
as he can knows but another of the swinde
which have disgraced an otherwise progressiv
country.
When man has name he gets tn
reward of confidence with trust attached. II
, comes thereby into new duties, into the require
ment of higher standards. In proportion as tn
power of his name increases, increases also ia
caution and the obligation of its use. In yer
real sense II is no longer his name, but that Q
the people who gave ii to him. To an extent h
is no longer wholly himself but the conception
of himself which the people have erected in thei
hearts. To toy with this priceless gift, to rende
dangerous to confidence its own generosity is
course 'onlv less disastrous than suggestive of be
trayal.
Above all name is NOT for sale.
Who makes of If matter of bargain and trad
shows instantly his incompetence TO carry tn
rare thing with which the people have endowe
him.
Had the Roblev Evans advertisement appeare
in the world, instead of in The American
II is oddson that the resulting Brisbane ed
torial had been a moral classic.
Il AM 4 DEMOCRATS.
The death of David Bennett Hill recalls po