Are You Honest?

Are You Honest? By Ernest D. Partridge, Brighton Young University (Author's Note: The question at the head of this article is supposed to cause the reader to look honestly into his own heart and see what beliefs are there; and to see what are his habits in regards to his transactions sim- ilar to the one recorded below. He then is auvised to measure his beliefs and habits by the rule stated at the end of the article to see how' correct he is. The article relates an actual experience. The amount involved is only five cents but the principle is the same as if it had been a thousand dollars.) The publisher's supply to a certain text on drafing had become exhausted. No copies could be obtained from whole- salers or jobbers. The books became very much sought after. The publisher's price was 25 cents per copy, but the sudden scarcity had sent the price soaring, 1 advertised lor used texts. A few were obtained from 50 to 75 cents per copy. The supply was far below the demand and books were eagerly sought by members of the class. One morning a young man came into the room with a used copy of our text for sale. I paid him 25 cents for it — the price he had asked. Immediately a member of the class came and offered me 50 cents for the book. I told him I would not take 50 cents but I would take 30 cents for it. He was sur- prised— almost dazed at my remark, but paid 30 cents and left with his prize. Either thoughtlessly, or intentionally, I am not sure which, I had made the remark about my selling price so loudly that the whole class heard it. Every one stopped work and looked my way. I despise profiteers, and thought I, "here is a splendid opportunity to show my attitude upon the matter." Meanwhile, I mentally patted myself on the back and thought, "What a good boy am I!" Some of the students said plainly by the looks upon their faces, "You chump," others looked — "The 'prof is playing for compiments " Still others tapped their head with their fingjers, . indicating their belief there was some- thing wrong with my upper story. All these made me feel that I had performed a wonderfully honest and upright act. My shoulders moved backward. My chest moved upward and out- ward. My head raised to an almost uncomfortable attitude, rolled a little to one side and became stationary. Two students came up to my desk and asked if I meant it, or if I were just "kidding " "I mean it," I said, "this profiteer- ing business which is becoming so prominent in the world is a disgrace to the race, and every opportunity to uproot it should

158 IMPROVEMENT ERA be made use of. I am going to do all I can to stop it." (Boast- ing, you see.) The students went back to their work, and the incident was forgotten by all — except myself. For a few seconds 1 sat gazing out of the window. Presently the muscles of my eyes began to tighten. The object of my gaze seemed to recede slowly into the distance, until my sight rested upon "Old Timp." But my mind was not there, my thoughts were about as follows: "How much did you make in that transaction?" — "Five cents." "What percent gain was that?" "Twenty percent." "What would be the gain per minute at that rate?" "100%." One hundred percent, per minute. I had considered almost as a robber one who would ask 10% per annum. My shoulders relaxed; my chest dropped; my head pivoted back straight, then slowly drooped until my eyes rested upon a piece of paper which was lying upon my desk. I seized my pencil and rapidly made the following nota- tions: Assuming that I could have invested the money as fast as it came in — 100% per minute, 600% per hour, 144,000% per day, 4,320,000% per month or 51,840,000% per annum. Talk about profiteers! I confess that for some minutes my mind was swamped with questions and answers of many kinds. In fact, I think I can say that for several days my thoughts were completely "scrambled" upon this matter of buying and selling for profit. I could have given the "nickel" back to the buyer, of course, Or I could have given it to the seller. I would have gladly given a nickle to both if thereby my mind could be relieved upon the matter of honesty. But it could not have been re- lieved without the correct solution of the whole transaction. I knew that a commission merchant could not live if he returned all his profits. I studied the matter over and over in my mind. I asked myself, "Was there, then, no virtue in what I did?" It was some time before I found the correct solution, but I found it; and I am sure that all commission merchants, sales- men, canvassers, horse-traders, etc., will do well to consider it seriously. It is not anything new in itself, but it ought to bring new thought and new action to all who have dealings with their fellow men. It is just His word in a different form; it is: "So deal that you would be willing to be either party to the transaction" So in my experience related to this article, I am sure that under the existing conditions, I would have been willing to be at either end of the transaction, but — I am, very thankful that I didn't accept more than thirty cents for the text. Provo, Utah.