The Washington times., 1924-01-18
Too Much independence Would
Be Dangerous
But Fortunately None of Us Has Acquired 1t AS Yet

Every and then you hear your
with great sOlemnity:
II a self-made have fought my way success
unaded and afford to be Indifferent public opinion
What people think Of has concerned the least
so long as pleased myself"
Statements Of this kind often heard among the class
Of people who have managed to make reputation by
their efforts.
fact most are inclined believe that everything
have accomplished has been due to brains and
industry rather than any help that has been furnished
by other people
That is one reason why advice as general thing foolish
man follows the advice you give him and is SUCCESS
Full he thinks his the result Of his nte
gence he follows and FAILS he blames you giving
It to him.
The idea that independent of Others and that
have been the architects Of whatever fortunes happen to
possess is so general that it is worth looking into
We think that strong enough to manage own
affairs without any outside interference and yet in almost
OPINIONS OF OTHERS that make do the things do
Most young men would rather be considered good fellows
than follow the prompting of their Consciences.
They buy drinks which they do not need and cannot afford
rather than allow their friends to call them CUTTERS
term dersion far more terrible than that Of loafer or
The most independent of sefmade men practice hun
deds Of little hypOcrises which are merely trucking public
opinion.
by handful Of men whom they never heard Of
They build large and expensive houses which they cannot
Their speech their thoughts their meals their very vices
regulated absolutely by what their fellow beings and
the oudest and most blatant Of them have the moral
courage to lead the life they would prefer and which they
would lead they never were watched by others.
In this cowardice of strong men, in their of
others think and the greatest hope of this any other
country which founded the idea that the people should
be the rulers
of brains and strength independent as they
UNLESS ALL SUCH MEN WERE PURE PURELY W H
And you should list Of your acquaintance
pick out those who under all circumstances
uenced by seshnes your selections would be very few
But as long the fear Of public opinion prevails there
danger.
AS long your neghbor and the men in the street have
not the to do they please regardless
the world they will not dare band together take you by
the throat or rifle your pockets
The greatest and most powerful and corporations fear
PUBLICITY they fear DEATH because they think that
the discovery Of their robberes would anger their privately
owned legislators and ofcehoders because they know
office WOULD FEAR PUBLIC OPINION too much to stand
against it, and that result Mr. Corporation Director
would be put into jail by his OWN FRIENDS he got
found out.
There yet many greedy graspng men, who appear
be unconcerned about what people think of them long as
they able to purchase protection but when the people
realize that they have in their power force such
men to be honest the bolde Of the robbers will become the
most cowardly and cringing Of convicted thieves.
We may all prae proudly about independence and the
peace Of mind that it brings us, but all as
superior to surroundings and obous public opinion
would have ourselves believe this world would be
pretty unsafe place to live in
What Is the Cheapest Labor in /