Show MORAL ORAL RESPONSIBILITY B B. B D'- D' DL L. L Dart A few days ago I received the following following fol fol- lowing from a well known business man He was sending copies out to people of his acquaintance every everywhere everywhere everywhere where that they in turn should pass it along I think it is well worth reading at this time and then put it into Into practice and cond conditions will Improve Improve Improve Im Im- Im- Im prove A great deal of the present depression has as resulted from a alack alack alack lack of moral responsibility on the part of American business businessmen men farmers and others Men have made bargains when it was to their advantage to do so and when It seemed profitable to cut loose they have In many Instances in instances instances In- In stances dishonored their signatures signatures signatures signa signa- tures and agreements Back Inthe Inthe in inthe the panic of 1857 1867 Abraham Lincoln Lincoln Lincoln Lin Lin- coln was asked to address a company of distressed business businessmen v men in Springfield Ohio The essence of his advice was summed up in one sentence If you have made a bad bargain bargain bargain bar bar- gain hug it all the tighter That statement contains as much sense as morals It fits our present situation today Honesty ls is not only the best policy but it is the only policy polley which can bring business back to a normal basis Credit is the ground work of the business structure and religion is the foundation of credit The Golden Gold Gold- en Rule is as good today as it was a thousand years ago We have a g good od ba banking system Our natural resources are as great today as l last st year or the year before when every everyone one was prosperous Money is available for good risks and banks cannot cannot cannot can can- not be blamed for withholding credit when they see legitimate drafts going to protest and le legal legal legal le- le gal contracts being scrapped simply because it Is not profitable ble to honor them Let all business business business busi busi- ness men of what ever line Une stick to the letter of their agreements agree agree- m meats ments and then Insist that others others others oth oth- ers do the same This does not refer to the time of settling ones one's agreements because In some cases cases this this' may require len len- Give people the advice Abraham Lincoln 1857 1867 If It seems like a bad bargain carry it out and in so doing It Is quite probable that the bargain may inot not be so bad d at after r all 11 I believe that the above Is very applicable to pres present nt day conditions and that If all will get b back ck of their obligations with a will things will improve all along the lIn line General conditions are Improving In the larger larger larg larg- er er centers and no doubt will reach us in a reasonable time Ume |