New Britain herald., 1924-04-04

standards. It is a fact, recorded b!
 history, that periods of prosperity ar,
 always accompanied by lax bushes. | methods. When there is little busi
 ness and strong competition, business feels the necessity of strict attention
 to details, high-class service, and zeal. l GUS regard for the highest ideals ot business methods.
 "On the other hand, when the sales i managers desk is overloaded with or | ders and people are clamoring for the products of his establishment, there
 is tendency to laxness in the appre- citation of these selfsame business vir- tues. Delivery of goods when con- venient, substitutions. loose interpre- tation of specifications. sharp prac- tices, are the concurrent results of waves of prosperity.
 f The unprecedented demand for raw and manufactured articles dur ing thesyears 1915-191S illustrates 1 this historical fact, and during that period, many business men failed to observe business virtues which they I.zealously maintain in ordinary times. lo1 VIII ItIdI tHc tdnttlldtlOH Ol contracts in the recent rapidly rising and falling market. To restore and maintain faith in the business world is a great business problem, and its solution will be aided when all busi- nesses and professions have written codes by which integrity may be measured.
 Clyde King. in commenting on the cancellation of contracts. in the An nals of the American Academy of So- cial and Political Science, said. The sudden stagnation of business in 1921 was due, more than men are wont to believe, to the breakdown of moral stamina
 "The large business organizations of the country are keenly alive to this situation of lax business methods. and 1t is undoubtedly true that in the fu- ture. business men who maintain or disregard correct business standards as best suits current business condi- tions. will be ostracized by their fel- and former patrons.
 Advertising Men Blazed Way
 "Modern code-writing. and inter- ests in code writing. dates from the issuance of the Code of Advertising clubs of the world whose slogan was Truth in Advertising Following this code, many so-called codes were writ ten or in progress, and then, the war turned mems thoughts to other mat ters.
 Since the war. business men and ouaip turned to the consideration of stan dards of practice in business, and many articles have been written and talks given, demanding higher busi- ness standards. In such addresses and such articles. there was a con stantly recurring suggestion of the necessity for written codes of ethics, but as regards the form such codes should take. the essential clements to be included, and the method of ex- prssleon, thre was little information, f any.
 Nowhere in the large national craft associations did leadership de- velop to carry this idea into effective action. Ii remained for Rotary to i .ake the leadership, and, after a care 1 ,ul study Of the problem, present l through its business methods com nittee, model outline for standards ,f practice, accompanied by such in- in addition. as would en- ,b,e the crafts who were interested, to '. write q code. ]
 Individual Rotarian's Part
 "The individual Rotarian's part fin he campaign for codes is as follows: l
 "i. Every Rotarian should join he craft tbusiness or professional ssociation corresponding with his inc of endeavor, be it a business or