Milford chronicle., 1926-01-15
EJDCE MORRIS
= TALK ON ETHICS

i0 IN part DIS lO4lOWos
Whatever may be the practices
sewhere 1 have an abiding faith
at no member of this club is at
npting to build or conduct a busi-
IS upon a foundation of bribery.
readily would l believe that you
build cheat atscards or golf-and
thinkable proposition. Hence brl-
rv. too, falls into that category of
Ibiects about which may not or
eed not talk. If 1 understand the
bsiness of Wilmington and Rotar-
ms Alright Piracy of Design and
iring Competitors Employees may
so be added without discussion to
Le p'owing list.
Since l have exhausted those
ings about which was command
to sneak 1 am now at liberty to
cal with the topic from the point
view from which, as view the
after. it must be approached to be
nderstood-the standpoint OF ethics
nd morals for it is obvious that
mart from statutes, which am d1-
ected to keep away from, and OF
hich there are few, the guides to
air practices in business are those
be found in the ethical and moral
ode. Unfair practices are species OF
raud. To the present day standards
+ ethical and moral conduct fraud
almost if not quite as reprehen-
ible as theft. No completely COM
rehensive definition of fraud has
yer been given. 1t has been left de-
ignedly elastic so as to mbrace ev-
~ species of trickery and deception
onceived and perpetrated by man
18th the object of gaining by an
theirs loss through such trickery
nd deception. 1t is synonymous
With unfairness. Sometimes that
yhich is done may be fair if done
nth the proper motives and unfair
nd fraudulent if done in bad faith
r with improper motives. Rival
manufacturers of tradesmen may
IOmpete for the patronage OF the
bublic in the quality and price OF
heir goods, in the beauty and taste
'ulness of their wrappers and car
ons. in the extent of their advertis-
ng and in the employment Of agents
but they are without right ethically
r morally to employ in that cOmpe-
Iition any means or method which
judged by the standards of the per-
cd and place are unfair.
The problem and duty of the busi-
hess man in his dealings, as 1 see 1t,
to keep abreast, if not in advance,
bf the rising ethical and moral STAN
hards in their bearing on business
ife under the new economic order.
A manufacturer has the right to sell
br to refuse to sell his goods to an
bther but if the manufacturer of a
particular brand of goods which is
specially desired refuses to sell such
goods unless all his other goods, for
which there is no special preference,
shall be taken in lieu of those of
rival makers, it becomes full line
forcing and unjustifiable in ethics or
morals by reason of motive. Again
everyone has the right to use pen
and paper but no one may apply
them to the purpose of defraud1ng
his neighbor of his property, making
money or committing
forgery. Such illustrations may be
multiplied indefinitely. That would
serve no useful purpose. They would
all be unfair because as business
dealings they would be in conflict
with some fundamental or basic rule
Of ethics or morals whose applica-
ton to all the affairs Of business life
would leave the business man NOR
ally blameless.
If in the great search for truth
that fundamental rule can be discov-
cred the test is always ready at
hand. The question would then be
How stands my business practice
when tested by that rule? And that
IS your only question for the basic
of proper business con-
duct does not have to be discovered.
It is already known. Nor is it new.
It antedates the present economic
order but it is as applicable to that
order as if it had been brought to
light yesterday. It is found in the
words of the Teacher of Galilee--
"All things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them" No scientist, no
no jurist of the interven-
ing centuries has been able to i'm
prove that rule by the addition or
subtraction of one jot or title.
"It is as eternal as the stars. The
laws of God governing human rela-
tionships of whatever kind are as
fixed, as unalterable and as work.
able as any of the other natural
laws. Do hear someone say that 1
am passing into the realm of creed
and religion likewise forbidden as a
topic of discussion at these meet
lngs? I accept the challenge. Turn
to the 18th section of the Rotary
Code of Ethics for business men of
all lines There you will find our de-
clared belief in the universally of
the Golden Rule. Again the 3rd Sec
Lion of that Code tells me that as a
Rotarian it is my duty.
"To realize that I am business
man and ambitious to succeed; but
that am first an ethical man and
wish no success that is not founded
On the highest justice and morality.
"The 9th section informs me that
as Rotarian it is my duty to con-
slider no personal success legitimate
Dr. eA4ical which is secured by taxi
ing unfair advantage Of certain op-
Dortunities in the social order that
are absolutely denied others, nor
Cthe section continues) will 1 take
of opportunities to
achieve material success that others