V.gabond Editorials

By Jack Dionne

Since this world seldom produces a great man, it likewise seldom buries one. Therefore, the passing from this life of one whose service to mankind and humanity challenges that of all other men since this world was born, is a momentous event.

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Too tremendous an event, by far, for this wildly rushing modern world to immediately measure or appreciate. But in retrospect the name and fame of Thomas Edison will grow with every year, with every generation, with every century, until the shadow of this recent Titan overshadows all the rest. d<*t

Viewing the human beacon-lights of this world through the vast expanse of time, few are the names that pierce the clouds. Using as the measuring stick of greatness benefactions to humanity, Edison was one of the greatest men the tide of times has developed.

A few days since mankind could point with pride and say-'(One of the great thinkers and doers and benefactors of all time lives in our rnidst". We had one great man in the world. Today we have none. Truly, the world should mourn' t :r ,t

A few years ago the world possessed another great man, Luther Burbank. Both Burbank and Edison were great, free souls, who faced the life to come as they did this one

-fearlessly-smilin gly.

The same birds that two years ago were swearing that the high tide would last forever, are now equally positive that the world is coming to an end. Their judgment wasn't worth anything then, and it's worth less now. ***

It galls me to have to admit that the stock market-an exaggerated crap game-has become the arbiter of our business fate. But since it apparently IS, we may as well accept it, and pray for a steady improvement in stock values. If the value of stocks would gradually climb the hill for a whilg people would begin buying lumber-building homes. ***

A retail lumberman of prominence is recommending, as an unemployment assist, that the Federal and State Governments furnish the cash through bonds or otherwise to finance a great home building campaign, loaning prospective home builders the cash to build their homes at not more than 5 per cent interest, with ten years to pay the principal. He thinks this would furnish a tremendous arnount of employment throughout the land, and start a great home building movement. He deplores the fact that stock market gamblers can borrow money to finance their operations far cheaper than the average prospective home builder'

Another line yard head who operates a big string of yards writes me at length about developments of present business conditions. He says he finds that there is evident today a tendency on the part of employees to pilfer from the company till and pocket to a degree heretofore unknown to him, and wonders if other big firms find the same thing to be true. He likewise deplores what he believes to be a hesitancy on the part of employees to fall in with the spirit of the times and get back to the old-fashioned habits of thrift and economy.

I don't agree with my friend, and feel that he has been the victim of unusual circirmstances, and unfortunate ones, and that his experiences are individual rather than general. I believe that in these times the average man, knowing the trouble his employer is having to "get by", gives more diligent service and more honorable support than usual to the institution from which he draws his bread and butter. And, as far as thrift is concerned, I believe that all of us in every walk of life, are learning lessons of thrift and economy that will stay with*us "from now on".

When someone asks you the guestion-"What brought about these present business conditions?"-is3d the following words, uttered by a man named William Feather, and you will be furnished*a well nigh perfect answer:

"I{ereafter I shall pay no attention to car-loadings, bankclearings, crops, or commodity prices. I shall concentrate on just one indicator-the rise and fatl of FOOLS. When I look about me and see young men driving high priced cars, leaving their offices at three in the afternoon, boasting of the thousands of dollars they made last week and exchanging tips good for a thousand dollars over the weekend; when I see boys rolling in money, boys whom I wouldn't hire to wash the rollers in my plant-when that day comes round again I shall rush to my bank and sell every share of stock that I own. Because God never intended that fools should make a better living than honest workers. Whenever a situation arises in which they DO, I know it is contrary to the fundamental laws of the universe, and cannot last".

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