Considering the extreme importance of the work which such agencies have to perform it is improbable that either their position, or the position of government in general, is as yet sufficiently strong with reference to corporate interests. Under modern conditions success in business means very large material rewards. Important as are industry and commerce, however, certain parts of the work which the state is now performing are, from the social point of view, immensely more valuable. The commonweal requires that our best intellect be applied to these tasks. Any condition which favours the drafting of our ablest men from the service of the state into the service of business is a point in favour of the latter wherever the conflict between them is joined. Yet not infrequently we witness the promotion of judges to attorneyships for great corporations, the translation of men who have won their spurs in administrative supervision of certain kinds of business to high managerial positions in these same businesses. As long as our morals remain as mercenary as those of a Captain Dugald Dalgetty there may seem to be little to criticise in such transactions. Doubtless loyalty is shown by the men concerned to the government, their original employer, and to the corporation, their ultimate employer. If, however, there is to be an exchange of labourers between these fields it would be vastly better for the state if the man who had succeeded brilliantly in business should normally expect promotion to high governmental position. As things are at present the glittering prizes known to be obtained by ex-government officials who have gone into corporation service cannot have the most favourable effect upon the minds and activities of officials remaining in public positions requiring them to exercise supervision over business activities. It is high time that there should be a reversal of policy in this connection. We need urgently greater security of tenure, greater social esteem, much higher salaries, and ample retiring pensions for those public officials who are on the fighting line of modern government. Incomes as large as those of our insurance presidents or trust magnates are not needed, although in many cases they would be much more richly deserved. There is recompense which finer natures will always recognise in the knowledge that they are performing a vitally important public work. In spite of the loss which political corruption causes the state it is probably more than made up by the devoted, and in part unrequited, work of its good servants. Still the labourer is worthy of his hire. It is both deplorable and disastrous that the current rewards of good service should be so meagre while the rewards of betrayal are so large.[58]