Henry Baird Favill, AB, MD, LL.D., 1860-1916, a ... - University Library

598 HENRY BAIRD FAVILL
Early in the game it put to itself this question :
my brother's keeper?"
civilization,
"Am I
And following along the genius of
following along the thought that has come to
dominate all serious and right-minded people in the world, it
answered that question affirmatively, "I am my brother's
keeper to any extent that my obligation indicates." But
beyond that came this question, as it always comes as the
concrete development of that query: "Not only am I
my brother's keeper, but am I my own keeper?" because
every man comes to see that in any community, great or
small, but particularly in a great complex community Hke
this, there is no such thing as an isolated evil. There is no
such thing as an evil or a pernicious process or a vicious
spot which can stay where it starts. It does not make any
difference whether we are talking about the vice district or
the saloon question or tuberculosis or contagious disease of
any kind, or wages or strikes or what it is, there is not a
question that can arise in
a community like this that does
not become inevitably and immediately a question of the
whole people.
You can not keep segregated any festering spot in the
body politic. Therefore, the Association of Commerce has
said, definitely and distinctly and aggressively: "These
things are our business, and we will deal with these things
just in so far as we are able. So it comes about that the
Association of Commerce deals with the question of poHtics
in its broadest sense, by influencing where it thinks it ought
to influence the administrative bodies. The question is,
if we elect administrative bodies, ought they to run their
affairs and our affairs ? And the answer is, in a limited way,
yes,
they ought to be responsible and held responsible for
the proper execution of their trust. But beyond that
limited way, the answer is, no, there is no administrative
body that is as wise as the whole body, and there is no administrative
body which will not be better for the aggregate
thought of this organization expended upon any particular