Mere wealth indeed can be bequeathed, but the power of mere wealth—to paraphrase a famous dictum—has decreased, is decreasing and ought to be, and will be, further diminished.
IV
What, then, can and should finance do on its own part in order to gain and preserve for itself that repute and status with the public to which it is entitled, and which in the interest of the country, as well as itself, it ought to have?
1. Conform to Public Opinion
It must not only do right, but it must also be particularly careful concerning the appearance of its actions.
Finance should "omit no word or deed" to place itself in the right light before the people.
It must carefully study and in good faith conform to public opinion.
2. Publicity
One of the characteristics of finance heretofore has been the cult of silence, some of its rites have been almost those of an occult science.
To meet attacks with dignified silence, to maintain an austere demeanor, to cultivate an etiquette of reticence, has been one of its traditions.