Running Head: Edwin Markham

Cindy Faust
March 22, 2015
"We have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit it to life"
by Edwin Markham

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Edwin Markham was born in Oregon City, Oregon in April of 1852 (Nash, 1999). At the
age of four, he moved with his Mom to a farm in central California (Poetry Foundation, 2015).
His poetry writing began in 1872. It was several years later before he sold his first poem in
1880. Edwin became internationally known in 1898 due to the poem he wrote called "Man with
a Hoe". This poem was written after he viewed the painting of the same name by Jean-Francois
Millet, a French artist (Lauter & Fitzgerald, 2001). The painting depicted a lone farm worker
leaning over onto the hoe he is holding. The worker's face appears sullen and tired, while the
background is full of rocks and depicts a very difficult work environment.
The worker described in Markham's poem "becomes the embodiment of the suffering of
oppressed labor throughout world history" (Poetry Foundation, 2015, p. 1). There were many
labor struggles that occurred during Mr. Markham's lifetime that also influenced the "Man with
the Hoe". There were coal strikes in the 1860's and 1870's and the rail strikes in the 1870's
through the 1890's (Nelson, 2001). He would also have known of the Haymarket massacre of
1886 and the Homestead, Pennsylvania iron and steel workers strike that occurred in 1892.
Dabakis (1999) stated that Markham's poem was one item that seemed to bring about social
change. His poem also typified that workers were often exploited (Kwiat, 1960).
Markham also wrote about the concerns for child labor. His work from 1914 called
Children in Bondage, was a significant writing in the battle against child labor (Academy of
American Poets). Edwin Markham felt that exploitation was a violation of God's will (Nelson,
2001). In Markham's quote "we have committed the Golden Rule to memory; let us now commit
it to life," he embodies his writings and his spiritual beliefs (Covey, 1989). The Golden Rule is
often referred to as the ethics of reciprocity (New World Encyclopedia, 2013). In simple terms
this rule means to treat others as you would like to be treated. Different religious leaders explain

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the Golden Rule in similar ways. In Buddhism they state, "hurt not others in ways that you
yourself would find hurtful," which was spoken by Udana-Varga 5:18 (Robinson, 2013, p. 1). In
Matthew 7:12 of the King James Version, it says "therefore all things whatsoever ye would that
men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets" (Robinson,
2013, p. 1). One statement from Judaism is "what is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man.
This is the law: all the rest is commentary" by Talmud, Shabbat 31a (Robinson, 2013, p. 1).
Business leaders also view the Golden Rule an all important aspect of creating and
sustaining a healthy corporation. Betsy Bernard (2015) lists seven Golden Rules of Leadership
as: everyones time is valuable, no temper tantrums, get to the point!, be candid, just say thank
you, integrity is everything, and if you dont know, who does? Leadership begins with integrity
and integrity is rooted in how you treat others. If you treat others with dignity and respect, which
is how you yourself would like to be treated, then business and life in general will run a smooth
pattern. A leader who desires to be followed must have a solid reputation of someone who can
be trusted. Your employees and subordinates must feel like your vision is one that you as the
leader emulate. They must also see that you are honest and value them as a person, not just
someone in your workforce. The customers of your corporation must feel like they are receiving
what they pay for, whether this is goods or care or customer service. Your customers should also
be made to feel valued and they are not just another number, that they sincerely mean something
to your business.
Arthur Nash (1923) and Charles Dole (1896) each wrote a book entitled, "The Golden
Rule in Business." Nash was a businessman and author in which some of his history was here in
the Detroit area. He decided to run his business according to the Golden Rule and this method
proved to be very successful for him. His employees were treated much better than those in

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other clothing manufacturing businesses in the area (Nash, 1923). The employees were also paid
substantially more than others. While there were many protests due to poor working conditions
occurring, these did not affect Nash and his company due to his treatment of his employees and
the feeling that they should be treated as he would like to be treated. "Whenever a business
house has a generous reputation people like to go there to trade" is one outstanding line within
his book (Dole, 1896, p.33). He felt that a good reputation was paramount for a business to be
successful. A company with good leadership will have the policies and procedures in place that
will enable them to positive relationships with their employees as well as their customers.
Consumers of an industry will respect them if they feel they are respected reciprocally. He also
said that adopting the Golden Rule would provide great gains along the lines of humanity (Dole,
1896).
Further on in his book, a statement from Dole (1896) mirrored one of mine made in our
weekly discussion posts. It centered around the fact of what would happen if everyone adopted
the Golden Rule within their daily life and what a much better place we would be living in. The
Golden Rule is based within integrity, respect, honesty, and caring for others. Leadership based
upon these ideals will provide the corporation with employees that likewise value and respect the
company they work for. The company will also be provided with success due to their customers
knowing they are being provided with good products and services. Edwin Markham and
business leaders from long ago felt the Golden Rule would provide great guidance.

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References
Academy of American Poets (2015). Edwin Markham. Retrieved from
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/edwin-markham
Bernard, B. (2015). Seven Golden Rules of Leadership. Retrieved from
http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/03fa/rules.html
Dole, C. F. (1896). The Golden rule in business. New York: T. Y. Crowell & company.
Retrieved from http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/
Kwiat, J. J. (1960). Studies in American culture: dominant ideas and images. Minneapolis:
University of Minnesota Press. Retrieved from http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/
Nash, A. (1923). The golden rule in business. New York: Fleming H. Revell company.
Retrieved from http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/
Robinson, B. A. (2013). The "Golden Rule" (a/k.a. Ethics of Reciprocity). Retrieved from
http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc2.htm
Soupios, M., & Mourdoukoutas, P. (2014). The Ten Golden Rules of Leadership: Classical
Wisdom for Modern Leaders. New York: AMACOM. Retrieved from
http://mirlyn.lib.umich.edu/