The Washington times., 1894-11-12
THE EVIL OF COMPETITION
It's Extinction Hastened by the Result
Of the Election.
REV. DIR. KENT DRAWS ALESSON
He Gays Republican Success viii Foster
Trusts and Monopclies and These VIII
Work Their Own Overthrow News
papers and Selling of Votes On Par.

papers and Selling of Votes On Par.
The Rev. Alexander Kent preached on the
recent elections at the Peoples Church yes
terday morning. He was rather pleased st
Republican success because Of his old war
sympathies, and especially because Republi-
can success meant the speedier downfall of
the competitive system. Free trade would
hinder the development of trusts and mOnop-
olies, and so delay the good time coming
when cooperation shall be inauGurated. He
pescribed how, in the course Of events. the
stronger competitor must break down. drive
out, or absorb the weaker, and how, for the
benefit of both, combination is tho natural
result.
Corporations he continued "and mo-
nopoiies are cooperative enterprises. in
which cooperation has for its object the
aggraadizement OF the few at the expense Of
the many. II individuals may pool their in
terests on this lower plane, surely the masses
may combine in the interest of all. This is
the lesson which our trusts ard monopolies
are teaching the people. and no other agency
can teach it half so effectively. They are not
only teaching the lesson; they are organizing
the industries to our hand so that when their
work has eliminated, when the reign OF com
petitiye effort has ended, and the era Of mo-
nopoly has come. the people will only have
10 apply the lesson and relieve the reigning
monopolis;s OF the onerous burdens they have
so cheerfully borne
" "'Priyate MONOPOLY says Prof. Ely. is
odious. Public monopoly is a blessing, and
the test OF experience approves it, When the
public does its duty, the odium will be lifted
from the few. and the blessing enjoyed by the
many. think the Republicans will do more
to revive the business OF the country on the
old lines, and to carry forward the work Of
industrial organization to its legitimate.
monopolistic elimination than the party OF
free trade.
1.-The people are coming to their own sooner
or later and when they come 10 their own
the gifts of the few viii be used in the in
terest OF all, and the strength Of all will be
sacred to the care and protection Of each. IL
the recent elections prove anything they
prove that the people are not ripe FOR any
such cooperative effort. Evidently they felt
that no relief was 20 be looked for from the
party in power and Just as evidently they
were not yet ready 10 put themselves in the
hands OF any new party. In sheer despera-
tion they returned to the party that only two
years ago they had forsaken. It seems TO me
that there is tckleness,in these movements
that does not promise well for the future OF
the nation. Such action has no root in solid
conviction, no basis IN settled principles. 1t
is rather the product OF impulse or interest.
II gives the party elected no opportunity to
test the measures in the advocacy Of which it
came into power"
''One Is led to wonder how far illegitimate
influences have been operative in the changes
made by the voters and how far the restless,
desperate and unenlishtened condition Of
the people l am told that in many cases the
unemployed have sold their votes from sheer
necessity. What is worse, we are told on the
highest authority that the practice OF selling
votes Is becoming alarmtagiy prevalent. even
in the rural precincts where living Is reason
ably secure aud comfortable. The feeling is
apparently growing among the people that
parties are merely the instruments by which
self-seeking politicians aim 10 lift themselves
into power. Ordinarily, therefore, IL is a
matter of indifference which party is elected.
The candidate, in his judgment, is only after
the spoils and, he catching this aim, is quite
ready to make the aspirant pay for any ser
vice he may render.
Il wou d have the Post and ali newspapers
so heartily devoted 10 the competitive system
consider the relation which this system
bears to the evil Why beg leave TO ask
should man esteem his vote any more highly
than he does his influence? If = man may
sell his influence and not forfeit his position
in society. why may he not sell his ballot: II
it is legitimate to buy and sell opinions. why
ism t il equally legitimate to buy and sell
votesg Yet the Post will buy and sell opin-
ions every day as a matter of business. 1t
IN ~yr~frl nrfr
/ ions were not for sale, unless bis opinions
! happened TO accord with its bus ness require
ments. Are we not told over and over again
/ that newspapers are purely business enter
! prises and 10 win support they must be run
! as such? Do We not find the same men own
| ing opposing party papers, and sometimes
! requiring the same men 10 write editorials Tor
/ both? II we are to prostitute their in,ellects
| and sell their influence thus, why IN the name
| o sense should we raise such a howl when a
poor man sells his ballot? What is vote but
! an opinion and an influence. anyway?
The practIce OF trading in votes is inde-
! fensl bic and ruinous. No degree of ignorance
/ or poverty is an adequate excuse. But IN
/ essence it is no worse and no more inimieai
to the general welfare than the many other
/ practices that are deemed Legitimate and are
/ openly followed il business. 1t is OF a piece
with the whole spirit and purpose OF the com
| petitive system. Something can be said OF 1t
I lHdL culuOl GV Stiiu Oi dLN CtlitI UuSiueSo
/ practices. In many cases the voter has no
clear convictions as to how he ought to vote.
He does not know but his vote as sold may
| help out the best party in power.
| But you can't say as much for the news
| paper publisher who sells his columns FOR dis
honest schemes. which he knows 10 be ruin
Gus TO public morals and public prosperity. We
want 10 lay the AK at the root OF this tree of
comDetition that is bearing such harvest OF
corruption This root is the shor5sighted
sefishness which leads u man 20 think he can
thrive in utter disregard OF the general veal.
We cannot make this selisbness impossible.
but can so organize industries as not to put il
at a premium
Dr. Kent then pointed out that employers.
Z while they want their men to live well enough
10 be useful. are opposed TO anything that
will make them independent. He showed
that improved machinery brings a narrowing
of the demand for labor and the enriching of
the few. This MEANS he said, inevitable
crisis and reconstruction on plan of Coop
GRAFTON. When it will come and how we
| know not: that is not our business. But to
talk and work that it may come peaceabIy
and come speedily is our highest duty and
our greatest privilege