The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-08-07
Private Business
ny "a. ADDINGroN BRUCE
Author 81 THE Riddle OF Person
siisN. Psychology and
Parenthood." etc.

The war has forced upon We many
new ideas and notifications OF
many old ones In the light OF It's
terribly concrete actuality. many a
fondly cherished doctrine has been
found m only for the scrap heap OF
discarded notions
Numerous people. however. still
Ran 10 appreciate this Stubbornly
they cling to all their past beliefs
And sometimes In so clinging they
work serious mischief TO the nation
of which they form a part
II is thus with the mentally blind
ones who today insist on living in
accordance with the theory OF ex-
IRENE individualism which would al
low every man 20 do his private
business" as seems best 10 him. and
with complete disregard for possible
consequences TO his fellow men.
Whereas the fact is that the war
has convlncingly demonstrated that.
strictly speaking. there is very
little private business that inso-
FAR as mans so-called private bus.
mess affects other people IL Is yer
itahly public business, and must be
conducted >with this IN mind
All 81 ,Ns - is certain. Will in
time be obliged 20 recognize this
truth and regulate our behavior &C
cordingly The sooner all ot US do
so. the better for our country and
for ourselves
We shall have 70 recognize. FOR
example. that tho the theory OF ex
,reme indlvidualism would allow Us
20 eat wha' food We please and 20
waste as much food as We please
We have social responsibility that
should enforce food thrift on us
A. ali times and most OF all IN
time a. great food scarcity one IN
divlduals eNtraVagance and waste
fulncss are certain 10 mean depriva
tion to other individuals This In
us turn means some degree 0f ma
'ionai Weakening
And the war has made il very
clear that preyentahle causes o. ma
tional weakening cannot be ioler
atcd
For the same reason, the way an
individual behaves with regard 20
his heath is not merely his per
-onal affair. his private business,
AZ many would argue In a real
sense Il also Is public business
Most az All II IS public business
In time OF var such as that thru
which We are now passing
lessly 70 bring illness on himself Il
in time o, war a traitor 70 the spirit
~ patriotism For he is deliberate.
IL making himself a liability Instead
~ an asset 20 his nation
Stll worse is the case 81 the man
who having in his charge the hnns.
ink OF other people. or purfeying
food 20 other people. for the sake
~ profit exposes those others 70
conditions endangering their health
His relations 70 his patrons IL nor
his private business. however
vociferousiy no may insist that It Is
The public is vitality Interested
vitality concerned In what no does
Nor. II a man has goods 20 sell
q The price he puts on these goods
entirely his own affair
They may he goods such az coal.
Wood. meat. four. etc constituting
real necessities of life II no eX-
brilliantly demands prices that many
people canno' meet. manifestiy he
g injuring his nation
Nanifestly. TOO however plausible
he theoretical defense of his lusOul
business policy. because that policy
does NOT injure The nation. be must
voluntarily or thru compulsion mod
crate his greed FOR gain
This Us. In truth, one Of The great
lessons ~ the war
The DAYS OF extreme individual
Ism are az an end Hence'orth the
dominant principle in the conduct
Of tho individuals affairs must BE-
that " social responsibility.