Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-11-24
nonest, In Politics ana In Business

Two business men were talking tc-
gether. One said: 81 do not believe a
man can be honest IN politics" lfe
other replied: "No, nor in busiress
either.n This started train OF thought
Unfortunately the sane opinion is
held by a great many people. But j.
true? Cannot man,be honest in pc :
tiles. or in business? II Dot, sonf =
thing is radically wrong in poliIi's
and Ia business Each Of these call
ngs is a part of Godr plan for IT,
world, Can we believe that God pla' :
ned that which cannot BE- conduc' d
honestly? The very thought is abhor.
rent.
The politician is, the man wi o
makes or administers the laws of Il e
country. Why cannot this be done
honestly? Is the question not due to
misconception of the purpose fer
which a man is put into political Of
flee? There are some office holders who
seem to have misconception Of the
responsibility restinF upon them.
They seem tothink that the only thing
they have to consider is now much
they can get out Of the office for Their
own personal advantage.
Starting out with this false concep-
ton of what public office means, it Is
not surprising that they do not per-
form its duties honestly.
The business man who has the idea
that the only good bargain he can
make is one which he gets the ad-
vantage of the other mau, is devoid of
right principles. Very naturally such
a man will not be honest in his deal
ings The true principle is to con iuct
business so that both seller and buyer
will be benefited by it. This can read
lily be done SO rs to give the seller
Just return for his labor and for his
capital invested. II il but the carry
ing out of the golden rule.
Is it true that politicians and busi-
ness men cannot be honest? If we are
to Judge of what can be by what is,
and if we are to take the newspaper
reports as a trne statement of what Is,
it may be necessary fof us TO adopt the
view held by the two men quoted
above. The press Of the day does
bring to our attention many cases OF
dishonesty IN both official and bust
ness circles. But let it hot be forgotten
that one dlscordant note struck by one
instrument in the orchestra viii attract
more attention than all the true notes
that go to make up the harmony. If
there are a hundred officials in any
community and ninety Lime Of them
are faithiullyiand honestly performing
their duty, little is ever heard If them.
But if one goes wrong his evil doings
are heralded abroad To the world. And
men begin to geDeralize and say all
office holde must be dishonest. The
same is true of the business man.
Every man who will Ii. axe careful
investigation will soon convince him.
felt that there are thousands of men
who conduct their business on the
highest principles Of honesty and that
there are many politicians who are en-
tirely faithful to the trust committed
to them.
Dishonest men do get into office, but
when their dishonesty ls discovered,
and it usually appears very early in
their career, the people have their re-
dress in their own hands. They can at
least keep him at home after the eXpi'
ration of his term of office by putting
an honest man in his place. If he is
returned to office and continues his
dishonest practices, the people have no
one to blame but themselves. 1T is
usually a case of "like people like
priest"-like people, like Office holder.
If business man proves dishonest,
cease dealing with him. Find the
honest man and patrolize him. And
he is not hard to find. By such pro-
cess as this the politician, the business
man who may be inclined to De dis
honest, will be taught the practical
lesson that "honesty is the test pol
icy,n and he may even he led 10 see
that it is the right principle.