m*- w - Clpdigital.org

THE DOLIAR VALUE
OF MORAL FIBER
IN BUSINESS^ 6 " 0 al e 4
T H E biggest thing in American
life today is that children are
not being disciplined. They
are not given moral training.
Every man notes the result
but only a few the cause.
The first visible result is lack of respect
for the parent and wholesale disobedience.
This comes to seed in impudence
to older persons generally and
disregard for the rights of others.
The second expression of the same
thing is the absence of any sense of
responsibility. This is the root of the
lack of application which is almost universal
in the younger generation.
The third expression of the same thing
is the feverish demand for excitement
and extravagant amusement. In this respect,
the younger generation is abnormal.
It cuts loose from all forms of
restraint.
The three things combined tell why
the younger generation is wholly unfitted
for business and why business men are
complaining everywhere that they cannot
get dependable helpers. The fact is that
the American youth lacks stamina. He
cannot and will not stick to anything,
merely because he has no moral strength.
The adage is that "as the twig is bent,
so is the tree inclined." If the business
men complain about the present-day
youth, they must think they were trained
differently. If they were, it would show
in their present conduct.
To get an idea whether their dissatisfaction
is justified, I selected for study
fifteen men in several businesses. Of
these, two were merchants; three were
railroaders: and ten were owners of factories.
I put them all to this acid test
of business morality. Do the same ethical
standards govern when business is bad,
is good, and is excellent? That is, in
hard times, would they "cut a competitor":.,
throat?" In excellent times would
they disregard contracts and use the
stolen merchandise to gouge the public?
In a word, had they the stamina to take
203