One of the more colorful characters in the history of the Santa Fe Trail was Alexander Majors. In a era and industry where rough characters and brutal behaviors were the norm, Majors offered a different vision.  A vision that not only expected more civilized behaviors, but also helped to make him wealthy. 
Majors was a religious man who experienced the American dream, but on his own terms.  A simple Missouri farmer who wanted more for his family. He decided in 1846 to embark upon the freighting trade.  Overland freighting in the 19th century had a well deserved reputation for attracting the roughest sort of character, who indulged in the usual vices of the frontier.  Disturbed by what he called the “disagreeable features” of the trade, he was nonetheless determined to succeed, but without pandering to men’s worst instincts.  Instead, he would expect any man who worked for him to behave as a gentleman.  Consequently he required his employees to take a pledge to refrain from swearing, gambling, drinking, and treating animals cruelly.  It was, he believed,  the cornerstone of his great success.

Today Majors pledge has a quaint quality to it that produces a chuckle when you hear it.  Yet when you look closer you can see that it was indeed a very practical and sensible set of rules. The pledge helped to create a more civil climate which in turn created a more productive work force.  While we may disagree on the particulars of his code of conduct, I think we can agree with Majors' basic concept.  There is a place for ethical behavior in the world of business. Certainly we have seen in recent times the consequences of corporate behaviors that could of been avoided if Majors' simple lessons had been heeded.
Audiences will walk away with a appreciation for Majors' ideas that basic decency and moral behavior do have a place in the worlds of business.  While we may think our times to be unique and require questionable behaviors to succeed or to cope, Majors would tell us that our times are no different from his.  Indeed he would tell us that decent behavior and moral behavior is just good business.
 
In my program I portray Majors who is attempting to recruit teamsters to work for him.  In the course of my presentation, I recount the origins of the Santa Fe trade, Majors' involvement in it, the working conditions, the required skills, the wagons and animals used, as well as the route itself.  As Majors, I expound on my ideas about civil behavior and in a piece of audience participation the audience will be required to take the pledge.