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CHAPTER I

THE VOTER AND THE FACTS

The foundation for these talks to students provides primarily for the consideration of the ethical side of business. It was the idea of the founder, Mr. Edward D. Page, that many members of the senior class would be shortly entering on a business career, and that the problems of business ethics should be carefully called to your attention prior to the necessity of your facing these problems in a practical way. In the series of lectures which have been given in the past few years many of these topics have been covered and the addresses published in book form. For this reason it has seemed desirable this year to depart somewhat from the original scheme and to consider certain phases of political duties and political service. It is true that the pursuit of politics as a “business" is commonly looked on askance, and yet it may fall to the lot of some of you to take up a political career as your regular

occupation and, in any case, the attitude of the business man toward the ethical problems of politics is of far-reaching importance.

From one point of view a class of seniors in college needs less talking to on ethical subjects than anybody else. I doubt if anywhere a body of men could be found in whom one could put more trust to do the right thing when they see it than a group of young men who have such environment and education as yourselves. Consequently, I am not going to talk morality to you in the ordinary sense. I shall give you credit at the outset for wanting to do the right thing and for having the strength of character to do it when you know what is right. It is exactly here, however, that your need of considering this problem is greater than that of men older and less enthusiastic for the right. To most of you the problem of right and wrong seems a simple one. To men of longer experience the problem seems a very complex one. What you need most of all, then, I think, is a recognition of this complexity. You want to do right and you are

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