Idaho County free press., 1924-11-06
CODES OF ETHICS FOR
BUSINESS MEN

There are few of us who like TO
have rules of conduct staring us in
the face at every turn. Neverthe-
less move to uplift the great pro-
fession known as Business has been
inaugurated in recent years by stat
| ing certain principles which apply
| to commercial relations between lines
of business and in dealing with the
public, and known as Principles of
Business conduct, or business ethics,
These principles can be adopted by
all business men, great and small.
They pertain as well to the owner Of
the popcorn stand as to the officials
of transcontinental railroad; and
strange to say these principles have
arisen like a rainbow in the sky,
beckoning toward a better day and
more prosperity for all. They have
not come through the co-called
statesman, nor are they the offspring
of politics; no legislative committees
poured over them during the mid
night hour. Ethics is not the product
of legislation, but the result of high
er standards of morality and right
thinking.
The Code of Business Ethics has
various origins, but it has evolved
and grown until it is now the very
warp and woof of business life. We
see it every day, consciously or un-
consciously, in every nook and cor
ner. All legitimate business enter
prises have practised, more or less,
certain habits of dealing which is
known as policy" This policy is
sometimes called the "good will' of
a business, and it has positive value.
Business, principles have been ac-
tually codified, standardized, and
brought into being. The Service
clubs, such as Kiwanis, Rotary, and
Lions have been among the foremost
to advocate the putting
Of business ideals into concrete ac-
ion. The Chamber of Commerce of
he United States has proposed GER
tain defined prindples and offered '
them for adoption to any business
70 disposed. Among the fifteen tenets I
IRE some measures that appea to :
mes sense of fairness, and they are
for clarity of expression 7
md common sense. They include i
uch as are given below: Il
The fountain of business is conf c
Ience, which springs from integrity, $
air dealing, efficient service and mu-
ual benefit. y
The reward of business is fair Il
rofit plus a safe reserve. r,
Equitable consideration alike to c
apital, management, employees, and
D the public.
Contracts, written or oral, to be
erformed in letter and spirit. Chang C
4 conditions do not justify their OF
without mutual consent. al
Representation of goods and service 81
lould be truthfully made and scrupu-
usly fulfilled. al
Waste, in any form,-of capital, tn
Dor, services, materials, or natural
sources-is intolerable. re
Excess, of every characterization
credit over-buying, oyer-stimula- da
N of sales, which create artificial OF
nditions produces crises and en-
condemned 1r'
Unfair competition, bad faith, de- III
Dtion, fraud or oppression, includ- =
, commercial bribery, are wasteful =
despicable, and a public wrong =
Lawful cooperation among business =
N and in useful organizations in =
Dport of these principles of bust =
IS conduct is commended. =
And lastly, =
Business should render restrictive =
islation unnecessary through so =
=
iducting itself as to deserve and in =
re public confidence. =