The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-11-10
Community Service


Workers Are Fair.
The vast majority Of business men
and workmen are sincere and fair. but
there is and perhaps always will be ID
minority that Ignore the principles Of
common honesty. They are sufficient in
number to seriously affect the whole
situation. Until these are aroused to
the necessity Of getting in line with
sound and decent standards Of conduct,
the full return to satisfactory business
conditions will be more OF less impeded
All that l have said during or since
the war concerning a return to great
prosperity in this country has been
predicated on business being managed
in accordance with the principles of
reason, fairness and honesty.
However, In considering the question
Of prices it is to be remembered that
many criticisms, favorable or unfavor-
able. are made which are not justified.
The reader or listener should be sure Of
the truth before reaching a conclusion.
The fair-minded man, II he has any
facts. will disclose them upon request.
Occasionally a writer through inexper-
ience or lack Of knowledge or other
wise. will misrepresent or mlsinterpret
Every one of US has been subjected to
convincing argument against the val
idity or soundness Of attributed state
ments which we never made It Is quite
common to build a straw-man in order
to give evidence Of strength in destroy
ing him But this should never disturb
our equanimity. We must admit we are
sometimes wrong when we think we
are right.
Now what, If anything. can be done
to improve the general situation? I an
swer the first thing for insistence.
throughout the world, is the observance
and enforcement Of law
Right In Right
There is no standard for safe and GER
tain progress in economic effort except
an established rule of law which fixes
and protects the rights of every one
without discrimination. There are de-
grees Of virtue and offense; but right is
right, and wrong is wrong. Wrong
cannot properly be comprised nor fos-
tered! and so long as a law Is In exist
ence IT must furnish the rule for con-
duct
Recently we have read of convictions
for violations Of the criminal law by
certain business men. They had con-
trolled selling prices and limited pro-
duction to the injury of consumers.
am not familiar with the facts and do
not know whether or not moral turpi-
tude was charged. The men pleaded
guilty, and. Of course, deserved punish
ment
And nearly every day for months we
have read of strikers violently attack
Ing men who had taken or were otter
ing to fill the places made vacant In
deed. 1t seems to be common to attempt
by force to lrPvent operation Of produc-
ing plants q transportation lines The
freedom of men to work, when and
where they pleased, has been inter-
fered with. Many have been seriously
injured and some killed.
II laws shall be enforced and peace
| maintained, the other questions relat-
ing to economic progress and achieve
| ment will be solved The law of supply
and demand will steadily. If gradually
bring about necessary adjustments
| which are equitable and relative, and
| restore levels which are natural and
| reasonable Business will be more or
less hesitating until it is generally be-
lieved the period OF readjustment is
| over
II II should be deemed necessary and
wise to have governmental supervision
over organized industry in order to pro-
tect the public interest, I personally
would not object, provided the laws and
rules shall apply alike to organized cap
ital and organized labor. Many years
| ago, at the request OF senatorial COM
mittee I submitted the draft OF a bill
for consideration that seemed to me
then to cover the case, but there was
lack Of time or disposition to give 1t
| Immediate attention
| One Of the most hopeful signs Of the
times is the apparent disposition OF the
present Administration at Washington
to aid rather than obstruct the natural
and legitimate progress Of business.
Anyone who Intentionally fails to ap-
preciate this desire or neglects to CO.
operate to the limit of his ability is his
own worst enemy.