Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1915-02-25
SAYS MIND MUST LEAD
MAN TO. PROSPERITY


assistance in the movement now on
foot among business men to inspire
confidence in the commercial posi-
bilities of the nation by developing
optimism, was set forth by G. c. Colt,
president of the Union Meat Com
pany, in an address before the Realty
Board at luncheon in Portland.
obviously, confidence and pros
perity convey, first, a mental condi-
tion, and second, the result of men
tai condition." he said. Scientists
have long maintained, and business
people today are finding out and be-
lieving more and more, that every
action is directly the result of a
thought, and in proportion to the
correctness of the thought success is
achieved.
1T is also apparent that mankind
is not the victim of conditions, but
in reality man is responsible for the
conditions which surround him. 1t
is therefore up to thinking men of to-
day to correct their thoughts and
conditions will take care of them
selves.
The things that make for So
called prosperity or hard times are
more often a mental condition of the
people at large than they are the
physical tangible manifestations,
Thus doubt and fear are the opposites
of confidence and courage, and doubt
and fear will give way to confidence
and courage with a change of the
mental attitude, and without any
physical change apparent.
'So-called conditions during the
past year have undergone more or
less a serious strain due to the up,
setting Of the equilibrium, caused by
the foreign war, change of admins.
tration and tariff, and other things
which have caused different view
point, concerning these subjects anC
has resulted in a tendency of uncer
tainty and doubt, which has been re
Elected in the so-called conditions
that surround us. Had these dis
turbances not taken place, the physi
cal manifestations of prosperity il
the country would, no doubt, hav,
been very apparent at this time, du,
to our bountiful crops, adjustment o
financial conditions and the desire o
people generally to progress aloni
substantial lines.
1T is important that each of IL
recognize these facts in order to d.
our part in the correction of the pres
ent situation, and | would call you
attention especially to two or thre
important points wherein you can as
sist:
First. you must start at home
Try and get your own mental condi
ton in the proper attitude; ceas
knocking; cease complaining; ceas
talking hard times; if You canno
talk good times, do not play tn
dog-in-the-manger act-when yo
see some fellow willing to take
chance and go ahead, do not put oh
stacles fin the way because you di
not think OF it first Help the othe
fellow to success and you will there
, by help yourself, for you are anXiou
that conditions improve, and l assur
you the only way improvement ca
be made is for every one to pull tc
gether and help.
I'VE have done many things in thi
country in the last few years whic
, have not tended to ultimate good re
suits. We have apparently take
pleasure in meddling in other pee
pies affairs; in putting obstacles i
the way of large business to becom
larger; of undertaking; of sittin
with our hands folded and crying OF
against evils which in reality we hay
part in the making.
Eve have required of the railroad
through legislation, betterments @
service which have cost them money
and surely it is the part of the Amer
lean gentleman to pay for what W
| get. This we have not been willin
to do, and 1t is up to us to get tn
right mental attitude in matters G
this kind and build up instead {
pull down.
| "All of us have a notion that W
are wise to degree, and when "
hear a statement made, if it strike
our fancy, we are apt. to repeat it, n,
I as the other fellows idea, but as OF
: own, and in repeating it, oftentime
a little is AIDED to the original stat