Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-30

I'VE are in the midst Of . great
era. One Of its greatest character
istics has been that it has taught U.s.
especially here in America, the ire
mendous strength which lies In CO.
operation and In organization. We
have learned that what cannot be
accomplished by individuals can be
accomplished by many working to-
gether. We have discovered that
in mutual service lies mutual ad-
vancement. Nothing better illus
trates this power of joint effort in
our modern life than the Develop
ment of that essentially modern in
stitution, the industrial corporation.
Great enterprises demand great
means. and the tremendous develop
ment of every branch OF human ef-
fort in America during the last
quarter century brought forth the
corporation. 1t is a creation through
which the savings of hundreds of
thousands, which we call capital,
can be combined to accomplish
great ends. to perform great service
to the individual and to society. 1t
has been a potent force in our pro.
gress. You have many examples of
its power for general prosperity here
in Sharon. can remember when
Farrell was but a waste, partially
the bed of the river. Today it is
the site of the concern which pays
the greatest volume of taxes to the
local government, and which con-
trlbuted to the support of many
families in Sharon. The corporation
as an institution made this concern
possible.
0n$ 6IaoaA AfL>s> Ill
You have heard and will hear much
rant against the corporation as an
industrial instrument. There can be
no doubt that like every human in
stitutiop it has been and will be
abused. But the fault Is not in the
| system, but in the execution. Look
behind the system and find the in
dividual who is to blame. Seek the
man. Put the blame where it be-
longs. Sharon has been highly for
| tunate In the men who have headed
Its great enterprises. They have been
men Of great vision, Of deep earnest
ness, Of fine integrity, Of firm faith in
| the future. l would caution you to
hold fast to your belief in your fell
low men. Humanity is essentially
honest. essentially loyal to it's trust.
We have too much bitterness. too
much discord in life. We will all be
better. if we keep our faith in the
other fellow.
Let us encourage individual in
ltlatlve. for it is individual initiative
that counts in America. 1t is the
man who has the vision and energy
and courage to risk his work and his
means that forwards the prosperity
OF the country. 1t is the man who
goes ahead that carries his fellows
with him. He should have the active
assistance Of his fellows, and should
not be held back by petty jealousy or
envy. Incidentally, though I have
not time to discuss it here, it has
seemed to me that there has been too
much of the envious spirit in our at
tltude toward the man who FORCES
ahead, for we are today in a fair way
to tax out of existence the initiative
of America.
when you have found out where
! these raw materials come from, how
they are treated, and where the fin
lshed products go, you will have ac-
CURED knowledge" said my father
His lesson holds to this day. Every
man or woman can acquire know
ledge by examining the things with
which he or she comes in contact in
his or her daily life, by determining
where they come from, how they are
treated. and where they go.
Two things are vitality needed by
| the men and women who go out into
the world today, if they are to serve
themselves. their community. their
country and humanity. They must
know how to think. They must know
how to work. We are too prone tc
allow someone else to do our thinking
for us. We are too prone to accept
ready made opinions because they are
arrayed in easily remembered Ian
Euage. America and all the world
, needs men and women who can dc
their own thinking. who can get and
consider facts and reach true deci
sions. At every railroad crossing in
America is a signboard bearing the
words, stop, Look and Listen"
wish we could erect before the men
tai crossroads of every American a
sign bearing the words, stop, Inves-
tigate and get the Facts" We would
have fewer wild social. political and
economic theories afloat in the worl6
if we could make every man his own
thinker.
Work is the great remedy for all
the sorrow and misery of the world
| Work. honest patient. conscientious
toll will conquer all things, will gain
all things. One Of the greatest
things that can come to the indi-
vidual through education is the
knowledge of how to work, how tc
manage his mental and physical
machinery so that it will perform to
the best advantage, l am. convinced
that we pay too little attention to this
tt.1 - IN,
American educational system. We
have built up a great schooling insti-
tuition in the United States in the last
| $50 years, since our forefathers
founded this republic. But there has
grown up with it an. increasing ten
dency TO believe that education is a
means and not an end. We must all
learn the truth that education, learn
ing, is but q means to an end, tool
to work with rather than work it.
self. ssas
Today the tendency of our boys and
girls is all away from the crafts ant
toward the so-called white collar oc.
equations. We are sadly in need o.
fostering the pride and dignity Of the
crafts where men work with theil
hands. In my days in Sharon the
great subject of the town was work
Every man was proud of his occupa
ton. whether he was a puddler. &
mechanic, or a rolling mill worker
His heart was in his work. Today. il
lis true the trend is toward the white
cellar professions, already over
| crowded. but I am here to say to yol
that the man with the flannel shirt il
the man who is getting the money
Furthermore, he is getting peace
contentment and happiness.
So far the things Of life have beer
| nrcnarcd for Vol and handed to VOL