THE GOLDEN RULEThese questions are easy to answer. Everyone knows that
he would rejoice to be treated kindly, to have his interests
regarded, his rights recognized and protected. Everyone knows
that such regard awakens a response in his own heart. Kindness
begets kindness; respect awakens respect. Put yourself in his
place. Imagine that you are dealing with yoursel£ and you will
have no difficulty in deciding whether you should give the
screw another turn, that you may wring a penny more from the
muscles of the worker, or relax its pressure, and, if possible, add
something to his wages, and give him respect for his service. Do
to him as you would have him do to you in changed conditions.
You are a laborer. You receive a certain sum for a day's
work. Put yourself in the place of your employer. How would
you like to have the men whom you employed work for you?
Would you think it right that they should regard you as
their enemy? Would you think it honest in them to slight
their work, to do as little and to get as much as possible? If you
had a large contract which must be completed at a fixed
time or you would suffer great loss, would you like to have
your workmen take advantage of your necessity to compel an
increase of their wages? Would you think it right and wise
in them to interfere with you in the management of your
business? To dictate whom you should employ, and on what
terms you should employ them?
Would you not rather have them do honest work in a
kind and good spirit? Would you not be much more disposed
to look to their interests, to lighten their labor, to increase
their wages when you could afford to do so, and look after
the welfare of their families, when you found that they also
regarded yours? I know that it would be so.
It is true that men are selfish, and that some men are so
mean and contracted in spirit that they cannot see any interest
but their own; whose hearts, not made of flesh but of silver
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