Evening star., 1932-02-05
Policy Of Golden Rule
Seen Aid to business
To the Editor of The Star:

10 tne 6ultOr OF The Star:
There Is one aspect Of our modern
business methods which deserves con-
structive attention. This Is the grew
ing tendency Of our great corporations
to belittle the human factor and to
adopt low wage standards. Many pub
lie utilities, chain store groups and
holding company corporations may be
included. TO illustrate: it seems par
ticularly unfortunate that the electric
light and power industry should fail to
express the highest Americanism, for
Edison, with his enthusiasm and un
selfish work, was Of generous and
loyal nature, and hoped to have these
qualities nurtured and expressed by the
industry he founded Moreover, he
clearly saw the need and the value of
the practical use Of the Golden Rule In
business.
In a semi-public letter October 13
1925, he wrote in part: You ask for
MY ideas of what the aspirations of
public utility should be. They can be
stated in very few words:
First. 1t should constantly use
every endeavor to reduce the cost OF
production Of its commodity and sell
it to the public at the lowest possible
price consistent with the making OF a
reasonable profit on the investment.
Second To regard the public as
partner and as such entitled to know
the salient facts Of its business, espe-
cially as it is public utility.
Third. 1t should lay all its cards on
the table and play the game fair and
square.
1T seems to me that If these ideas
were carried out, our public utility cor
porations would escape many trouble
some investigations and harassing re-
strictions."
Some time later Mr. Edison, in a per-
sonal letter, said In regard to the Col
den Rule:
You and your fellow workers are to
be congratulated on forming the Order
of the Golden Rule with the intention
Of carrying out this great principle in
your business"
Furthermore, the story goes that
Edison in the early days made an
agreement with Santa Claus whereby
Santa was to foster the human ele-
ment in the Edison electric light indus
try The first effects were spontane-
cusly delightful, but the more big cor
porations controlled the business. the
more difficulty Santa had, until he
finally gave up discouraged, and after
requesting that the bad news be kept
from Mr.. Edison, he practically disap-
peared from the industry
The trouble was that Santa was I'D
against business system which, with
out due regard for the human element
demanded all the profits possible. Now
the business men in the electric light
and power industry are as fine and
capable a set OF men as can be found
in any induStry-but the business sys-
tenn demands compliance
Therefore, the business system should
be improved and quickened by a spir-
itual factor such as the Golden Rule.
Spirit is intelligent power and to
gain the full value Of this rule it must
be understood as such and used in
good faith. Then 1t brings improved
Ideas, greater capability and more har-
monious conditions expressing a true
and higher economy.
Gandhi, a Hindu, recently said: "If
mankind Is TO live in a manner be-
fitting It's dignity, it must observe the
fundamental principles OF truth. JUS
tice. mercy and love. enunciated 1000
coming upon earth the whole Christian
world is celebrating.
"Christ's sermon on the mount is
the loftieSt piece Of moral teaching the
world has ever received. 1t is
calamity that the present day world
seems TO believe it impossible to re-
duce Christ's teachings to practice,
whereas l believe it is. II the doc
trines there proclaimed by Jesus were
practiced by the human r.ce, We would
have no wars and the world would not
be rent by economic troubles
How l wish America could lead the
Gandhi, the Hindu. was right-and
America should lead the way. The
way of the Golden Rule. which changes
the thoughts to higher. brighter and
more constructive activity.
If this well named rule were to be
generally used as guiding principle
in business such, for example as that
of our public utility corporations
even as Edison advised-the new out
look assured and, more particularly, the
new public confidence inspired would
be Of great value, not only to the
utility, but to the community and to
America
ROGER SHERMAN WHITE.
Secretary, Order Of the Golden Rule.