The public schools, the public highways, the protection of life and property, public hospitals, public libraries, residences for the old, the blind, the orphaned and the insane, as well as secure places for the lawless, are built and maintained by the taxpayer.
As a rule all these things are done honestly and well, notwithstanding the outcry to the contrary.
If there be dishonesty in places, it is the fault quite as much of the voter who selected him as of the official culprit himself.
We must take all the responsibility of our agents, whether they be public or private.
Every good citizen should feel that his public duty is an important private business.
CHAPTER XVIII
CONTRACTS, LEASES, AND GUARANTEES
The law books define a contract to be "An agreement between two or more persons to do or not to do a certain stated thing or things, for a consideration."
The consideration is a vital part of every contract.
There can be no binding contract without a consideration.