The Washington times., 1921-02-19
REAL ESTATE

tiOn OF the public from unprinoipled
agents or brokers"
TEST CASE IN COURT.
A test case IN court has given
judicial dignity TO the word real
tor as a title belonging exelusively
20 members Of the National Assoeia-
lion Of Real Estate Boards We
have official authority 20 insist upon
protection for this distinctive title
IND should grasp every opportunity
that may be presented to challenge
any further encroaehments upon cur
exclusive right TO Its use. IL IL \
happy coincidence that the recent
court action restraining a telephone
company from classifying as real
tors" any persons except those bo-
longing to the National Association
took place In Minneapolis, the home
OF c. N. Chsdbourn. who coined the
word "realtor."
Since the convention at New Or
leans. In March. 1919. when the Ma
tional Association offcially adopted
the title, the word "realtor" has come
into more or less general use. Mem
hers of the National Association have
been proud to call themselves and
their fellow members realtors" and
many have adopted the title In their
advertising and have II placed on the
doors and windows OF their ofnces
and on their stationery.
We must make II plain that the
word "realtor" is not to be trined
with. No one should be allowed to
ma squerade under that title unless he
IL willing at all times to observe the
spirit and letter of the code OF ethics
of the National Association ana unless
he is a member OF a local board nav
ing membership in the National As
sociation. 1t Is our duty to work har-
moniously to enforce the business
principles which we know to be right
and TO impress the code OF ethics 80
| indelibly upon the heart and mind or
| every realtor that there need no
| longer be any uncertainty In regard
| to the true Significance and meaning
! OF the word "realtor."
II we succeed in nothing else than
| to classify the honest, legitimate real
estate man under the title "reaitor
| our activities will not have been In
| vain. Our profession Is infested, as IL
every other, with Its share or
| charlatans. In times past II has some
times been the pastime OF unthinking
persons to suggest sneerinsiy. that
| real estate men, as a class. were tricky
anu dpoioeS'
HIGH ETHICAL STANDARD.
Our former traducers must grant
that we have established high stand
ards Of ethics and conduct that com
pare favorably with those OF any
other profession BY a jealous use Of
the word "realtor" We propose to
safeguard the public further by draw
ing a very sharp line of distinction
between that class of operators who
bring to the practice OF our profes-
sion suitable qualifications of educa-
ton, experience, and integrity, and
that other. / ana glad to say. fast d.
minishing group who, without the
essentials of good character and hon
est dealing and responsibility. inject
themselves into important transactions
involving real estate.
1t is highly specialized profession
no longer to be practiced as a make
shift or haven of last resort for un-
prepa red adventurers who have made
a failure at everything else. Because
the work Is so complex and hemands
the application OF undoubted talents,
the realtor Of the future must begin
his preparation early and devote him
self to it with the same fidelity ana
concentration with which the lawyer,
the physician, or the engineer lays the
foundation for his career.