The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-02-09
THE RISING TIDE OF DISHONESTY
... AND LAWLESSNESS

-s In an article with the title, THE Rising
Tide of Reputation" Willis J. Abbott says
that the remedy for present conditions Is
"a revival of the old sense of honor and
responsibility, and recognition of the
fact that new application of the Golden
Rule is the only way out"
Fl. Mr. Abbott is discussing the anti-debt
paying tide which is rising over the coun-
try and threatens to Submerge the business
of some sections. A New York Journalist,
quoted by Mr.. Abbott, found on trip
through Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas
that "due process of law" has ceased to-
exist in relationship to debts. Mr.. Abbott
comments on conditions in this paragraph:
This situation is not to be treated lightly. We
have had in the United States for many years past
growing Indifference. if not indeed hostility, to
law systematically encouraged and warmly ap-
proved by leaders in the movement to break down
6 prohibition. The emotional argument so widely
employed concerning the melancholy state of the
poor man deprived of his beer has only been broad
ened to include the fate of the poor man obliged
TO pay his debts. I do not question the fact that
in many instances the refusal to meet obligations
is due to inability to meet them. But the move
ment has gone far beyond mere lack of capacity
20 pay
''Men repudate financial contracts, no. because
they are unable to carry them out but because
they complain that they were made at the time
when money easy, and their bond is now diff
fcult to live up 10. They seem to think that bad
bargain can be repudated. Incidentally the exam
pie set by some official debtors in Europe may not
have been without its effect upon the sense OF in
dividUal commercial integrity in the United States
II we consider the whole phenomenon all the way
from the contempt for law Systematically inculcat-
ed by the foes of prohibition, taking into account
the calmness with which great governments con-
slider the complete reputation of their obligations
not forgetting the way in which banking houses
unloaded securities that turned out to be worthless
or at any rate worth only fraction of their orig
inal cost, and now demand their full pound of flesh
for all deferred payments on these securities, we
perhaps shall not feel astonished at the growth
among petty debtors of feeling that "due process
of law is an old-fashoned phrase to be cast into
the discard"
MI. Abbott is correct in attributing to
the growing spirit of lawlessness in this
country the debt reputation talk, at
tempts at reputation, violent outbreaks in
certain western States. and various other
forms of lawlessneSs. He is not astonished
at@the growth of this spirit among petty
debtors" in view of the records of men
mgher up. As a matter of fact, attempts
at debt reputation by European nations
should head the list of causes; and some
bankers and big business men in this coun-
try have engaged in practices which are
pointed to by the farmers and smaller bust
ness men as justification for their actions,
An old fashioned sense of honor and re-
sponsibility and the application of the Col
den Rule offers the way out of present diff
tieulties; and this sense of honor and re-
sponslblllty and practice of the Golden
Rule must be found in men of all classes,
if these things are to become effective in
correcting conditions and in righting
wrongs. Big business men and little bust
ness men, farmers, manufacturers and
tradesmen, professional men and public
officials, must adopt the Golden Rule not
as pleasant sounding slogan but as their
rule of faith and practice.
The business, the civic life, the social
life of nation that is not founded on q
sense of honor and responsibility and com
mon honesty, will fall to pieces and that
nation will be wrecked. Many of this coun.
try's present troubles are traceable to fail
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