11 JUNE 1910, Page 16

[To THE EDITOR or Tax " SPECTATOR. "] SIR, —As a thirty

years' reader of the Spectator, I am much interested in the ethics of the Press as given in your issue of the 4th inst. May I be allowed to point out two other factors which are not covered by the correspondence P (1) Large business undertakings are now generally run as companies, controlled by boards, and the decisions of the latter are arrived at by voting, in which case the verdict of the individual director may be overruled by the majority. Where his conscience may come in is a delicate question, especially if " boards have no souls " ! The same applies to members of Governments. (2) The question to employees (as to " A Work- ing Journalist ") is a life-and-death one, and conflicting judgments may be very perplexing, even if ready to do the right and " shame the Devil,"—how and when he is to act in opposition to his firm. Take the drink trade, which most grocers have added to their businesses of late years, to a teetotaler. In the world to-day attacks are popular against those who risk the serious consequences of fighting what they think abuses, especially in business or politics. Should not reformers back them up, even if they are not "infallible" in ethics or practice P—I am, Sir, &o., Ethelhurst, Sydenhant. GEO. WM. DODDS.