Bement High School - BIM Yearbook (Bement, IL)

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Commercialism of Coba? (This essay won the gold medal in the Piatt Co. Oratorical Contest) Margaret Clovd Vague, indefinable, yet clearly understood by almost all people, is commercialism—the spirit of business— the superabound-ing cause of all troubles, the root of all corruption. Commerce brings wealth, and wealth, luxury, with eventual moral and physical decadence. In some form, it must go on; it is necessary to the growth of any nation. But the spirit pervading it—the spirit of avarice—the greed for gold—the passion for gain—makes it a menace. Especially characteristic of the American is this love of money. The activity, energy and money-making faculties of the American are justly celebrated. Work is asserted by him to be a pleasure, not for the work itself, hut for the money it brings. All of his energies are ceaselessly bent toward the accumulation of money. All interests and all pursuits tending to distract him from his one love—the dollar—are eliminated. Since, then, the desire for wealth is so great, is it strange that commercialism should enter into every phase of modern life? Commercialism, a powerful, degrading force, enters first into politics. Locally, it is usually carried on with the knowledge and consent of the community. A corporation wants a franchise for a street railway, at the earliest possible date. In order to obtain it, legislatures or city councils must be manipulated, and this task is found to be comparatively easy. Influential positions are utilized for public and private gain. High offices are controlled by men with money, and the people occupying these positions of power are likewise controlled by these men, because of the money. The same conditions exist in the state government. Commercialism is the cause of corruption in legislatures. Money sends to our state legislative bodies men unworthy to represent the people. By these men, who are working for their own interests, bills detrimental to public welfare, or, if not positively harmful, at least not distinctively beneficial, are often passed. So, our lawmaking bodies fall short of the purpose for which they were intended.

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tight enough) was laid down next to one of my own kind, who look-ingout from above numerous patches, said sadly: ‘Let me warn you— football life is only a series of knocks and kicks. It is with great pleasure that 1 find I am to retire from active service.’ I laughed thinking that his melancholy mood was due to just having played the first half in a game between Harvard and Vale. But when the game started 1 commenced to feel quite nervous because the score was nothing to nothing and all the players looked as if they were ready to fight. “The first thing 1 knew was that Harvard had me and was rushing toward their goal. When all of a sudden a Yale student who looked as if he was able to down any player on either team, downed my 1 larvard owner and they both fell on top of me. Still Harvard held me. It was not long, however, until I was ii Yale’s possession and was rushed old in the opposite direction. It seemed as if they were near their goal, but wishing to get there quicker, they tried a forward pass. Fhis was a failure. Harvard got me again and 1 was started back toward the 1 larvard goal. All players seemed tired out, but I thought, no wonder from the numerous times 1 had had the breath knocked out of me. This time I larvard reached goal and succeeded in the goal kick. This ma !e the score six to nothing in favor of Harvard. This ended the half. Yale was determined to bring up their part of their score and now worked harder than ever. After I was gotten by both sides several tim.es, I found myself back with Yale. They made poor plays and with the third down had five yards to gain. They were desperate and again tried a forward pass. This time th:y were successful and got to the goal. The position to kick from was extremely difficult and they missed. This made the score six to five in favor of Harvard. Both sides played as hard as possible and tried as many tricks as they could, but all in vain. The score still stood the same, six to five, in favor of Harvard. While I was lying on the floor in the dressing room, 1 heard every one say that this game had been the best one of the season. After playing several games which were hard, but none ; s hard as the first, I began to think quite seriously of what had been said by the ball whose place I now occupied. Now 1 am about to be put in play for another game. I hope it will not be as hard as the first, because 1 have grown old and am all covered with patches which makes me feel as if I could not stand it. I think this game will he my last and should I happen to meet the ball which is to take my place I will warn it of its future, so that it may be prepared for the hardest of kicks. But alas, it may be as foolish as I was and not listen to one who has played many games and learned that experience is the best teacher.”

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 ith regard to the nation, as the people are, so the government, of the people and by the people, must he. Throughout the entire Union there is a dual conscience, two moral standards, one for public and one for private life. Is it surprising that with affairs in such a state, the national government is not all that it should be? And are we astonished when we think of some of the reasons why civilized countries no longer make war upon each other? It is not because we have learned to love our neighbors, but because war injures trade and costs money. History shows that friendship founded chiefly on interest has little real value. Commercialism is degrading to morals. It is responsible for the gradual loss of sight of the principles of truth, honor, charity, sympathy among men, religion, the real meaning of life. It has entered into the church. The poor are often excluded from the church by the high pew rents and the undue influence of the rich. ()ne of the most notable books of recent years, Winston Churchill's “The Inside of a Cup,” very forcibly tells the extent to which it has been carried in some places. Rectors of St. John’s had been controlled by the wealthy parishioners. John Hodder, without breaking his bonds, could not live truly and honestly; without living honestly, he could not preach the truth convincingly; without convincingly preaching the truth, he could never expect to attract those outside, those in whom he was most interested, those who most needed help. 11 is struggles with his conscience typify the struggles of many others under similar circumstances, but his ultimate resignation, his refusal to remain longer in a hypocritical position, his renunciation of the larger salary offered him, and his new start with a very little money, were the acts of a strong man. Real spiritual life has been transformed into industrial energy. The church must advertise, and does advertise goods for material benefits. Religion is, in many instances, a mere business enterprise. A professional man goes to one church, his wife to another. Ifis practice is increased, he secures patronage from among the members of both churches. Is it not natural that religion should be made a business, since business is made a religion? Does this same spirit enter into educational fields? Without doubt, it does. Take first the teachers. Upon careful investigation. it will be found that many of them think nothing at all of the good work they might he able to accomplish, the unlifting influence they might exert, but, instead, they think only of the money which will come to them in payment for the knowledge which they, perhaps conscientiously, have sought to impart. Among younger students the trading instinct is keen. As they