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Editorial
January 31, 1908
The Spokane Press
Spokane, Spokane County, Washington
What is this article about?
An editorial urges young men to act with integrity and avoid deceitful 'double games,' using the example of corrupt San Francisco politician Abe Ruef's downfall to illustrate that dishonesty leads to remorse and contempt.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
PLAY STRAIGHT!
Young men, you fellows who have just started out or are about to start out in life on your own hook, we are going to talk to you for a minute or two.
We are not going to preach. We have neither the time nor the inclination. We are only going to state some facts and ask you to think them over.
You have been reading some articles on Abe Ruef. What do you think of them? They throw some new light on the character of an exceedingly clever and an exceedingly unscrupulous man. They show him with every opportunity at his command to benefit himself and thousands of others he had wronged, by simply being on the square, playing a double game, and losing all.
When men play as Ruef did, it always happens--the losing. It is one of those things that always ends in disaster-the double game.
If that didn't occur to you when you read the articles, think about it now.
You may be clever. So was Ruef. You may think you are a little bit smarter than the other fellow. So did Ruef.
The double game doesn't pay either morally or materially. Ruef played it for a long time and reaped nothing in the end but remorse and the contempt of his fellows.
There have been thousands of Ruefs. There will be thousands more.
Don't you be one of them, young man.
Play straight.
Young men, you fellows who have just started out or are about to start out in life on your own hook, we are going to talk to you for a minute or two.
We are not going to preach. We have neither the time nor the inclination. We are only going to state some facts and ask you to think them over.
You have been reading some articles on Abe Ruef. What do you think of them? They throw some new light on the character of an exceedingly clever and an exceedingly unscrupulous man. They show him with every opportunity at his command to benefit himself and thousands of others he had wronged, by simply being on the square, playing a double game, and losing all.
When men play as Ruef did, it always happens--the losing. It is one of those things that always ends in disaster-the double game.
If that didn't occur to you when you read the articles, think about it now.
You may be clever. So was Ruef. You may think you are a little bit smarter than the other fellow. So did Ruef.
The double game doesn't pay either morally or materially. Ruef played it for a long time and reaped nothing in the end but remorse and the contempt of his fellows.
There have been thousands of Ruefs. There will be thousands more.
Don't you be one of them, young man.
Play straight.
What sub-type of article is it?
Moral Or Religious
Social Reform
What keywords are associated?
Integrity
Deceit
Abe Ruef
Moral Advice
Corruption
Double Game
What entities or persons were involved?
Abe Ruef
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Advice Against Deceit Using Abe Ruef's Example
Stance / Tone
Moral Exhortation Warning Against Corruption
Key Figures
Abe Ruef
Key Arguments
Deceitful Double Game Always Leads To Disaster
Ruef Had Opportunities To Benefit Himself And Others But Chose Dishonesty
Playing Straight Pays Morally And Materially
Avoid Becoming Like Ruef To Escape Remorse And Contempt