The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-06-02
A WARNING FROM MORSE.
DO TT NOW.


Evidently large section of the business men
Of what is known as the Financial District"
Of New York city fails TO comprehend the signs
o. the times and the demands of public senti.
ment Charles W. Morse has been elected presi-
dent of the Hudson River Navigation company.
It is the most important line on the Hudson
river
The history of Morse Is UNANIMOUSLY familiar to
the country He convicted of bank wreck
ing and sentenced TO long term In the federal
prison at Atlanta. He secured pardon on the
plea that he was in dying condition. Now
BE- is In full health. has become power In the
financial world. He grins impudently In the face
O. Justice, snaps his hngers at the law he first
dened and then abjectly implored for mercy.
TIE man who wrecks bank is guilty of crime
ar ruthless and villainnous the man who scut-
ties a ship. He betrays the most sacred trusts
and violates every law OF honor and humanity.
This man, convicted Of that crime stares in
solently at his victims. walks abroad and Is
welcomed to the companionship and association
q. business men who are reputable or at least
unconvicted. To secure control OF the Hudson
river line MUTSs fnubt nave received II vote OI
confidence from the majority of the owners;
must have been able to borrow money to buy
stock or must have used his own loot from his
former raids. Everybody knows that Men do
not acquire such power without command of
ready cash. Somebody has helped Morse or he
has used stolen money which he had held care
fully hidden away from the creditors he swim
Nobody OF right feeling would keep man
down always because he has sinned, or fallen
once. All of us sympathize with those who
labor to uplift, protect restore the victims of
their own passions weaknesses. Yet TO de-
serve sympathy or command respect there should
be some evidence OF pentence some decent show
ing of sorrow for misdeed and regard for the
proprieties Morse has offered none of these
He tricked the law Of it's due as he tricked
those who trusted him. He fairly fiaunts him.
self and stands before the world as a criminal
who broke jail with perjury and pretence instead
OF crow-bar-a fat, strong, jolly criminal
prosperous as ever and going TO a successful
financial career. So far as We can recall he
never has offered even an apology to the law
or 10 the many ne mas ~ronged or expressed
q regret for what he did. He has been and is
defiant and self satisfied He Is relic rescued
from behind the bars Of the worst and most
reckless OF the represen tatives OF high finance"
who shamed the country and put all finance and
commerce under the suspicion OF honest peo-
pie. Yet he is received and welcomed hack into
financial circles In New York
There should be such a thing as a code of
ethics In business, Political events of the last
few years and manifest public feeling express
code shall be observed. The American people
have recorded their insistence that in large oper
atoms as in small in banking and dealing in
securities and in the management Of great cor
poratons. In the smallest and most common
transactions. there shall be honesty fair dealing
shall be maintained and regarded. They realize
that the criminal of ability is the most dan.
serous OF all criminals. They distrust profound.
~ and Indignantly those who worship and fol.
low brains. or smartness regardless OF
character. They will accept as an insult and
menace the thrusting into place OF prominence,
power and honor of this impentent and bril-.
liant Jail bird and wrecker who cheated the law
he had offended as well as the depostors and
sloekholders q the banks he acquired,
The elevation OF Morse is direct challenge
to the respectable business men and the people
y large Of the country. It Il an anront to them
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