Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-24
BUSINESS COOPERATION.
The General and Growing Modern
Tendency to Unite
Is Apparent Here in Wheeling, as
in Other American Cities - A
Broad Amalgamation of Particu-
lar Interests One of the Signs Of
the Times.

Association and modern classical
ton of business interests throughout
this country. to a more marked degree
than ever before in its history, brings
the practice anu theory OF cooperation
in business of all kinds home to this
city, and the Register has recently
made some Investigations in business
and manufacturing circles of the city
TO gain the truthful situation as locally
existing in this respect.
The question presents itself in two
fold view in this city, and for that mat
ter in the whole business world, as to
whether business and manufacturing
concerns are aspiring TO attain for
themselves lawful combinations and So
called trusts, or whether they are seek
ing in the light of modern business
progress to establish an American CO.
operative system in all legal. business
and manufacturing pursuits. In one or
the other of these views and conditions
modern business interests will most as
suredly finally establish itself. The
dictum of Holy Writ is: mo man liv
eth TO himself and no man dieth TO him
self" The spirit of genuine selfish
ness in the business man must be curb
ed, and he must fully understand the
fact that nothing can longer be accom-
pliShed in a general business engage
ment but must have its special pro-
gramme and some reasons may be
given as melting business interests to
one or the other OF the positions men
toned
There never was a modern unlawful
trust in the business interests of
Wheeling. and so far the public and the
individual merchant and business man
cannot seriously complain at the exist
ence OF a wholesale classification and
combination of capital invested in mer-
camille lines of a general assortment
for the purpose of crowding out the
smaller concerns in respective lines Of
such goods and products as a modern
combine might assume TO sell under
such business arrangement.
These statements as made are only
locally applied to home business inter
eSts. No thought or attention is direct
ed to be taken OF any foreign associa-
tiOn of capital and business interests
that may have a part Of or a branch Of
its industry in operation in this city.
They cannot be viewed in any sense as
a part of our native genius in business
and manufacturing interests.
Such being the facts as found in
Wheeling. the idea of lawful business
aspiration 10 attain modern business
arrangements and the proper co-Opera-
ton of interests of all classes is found
TO prevail. and probably the last two
years has greatly contributed to bring
about better and more improved bust
ness and manufacturing conditions for
the near future in this vicinity and
country.
The banks and individual capitalists
in the city at the present time, while
HEALTHY by reason e competition. and
government in their business affairs
and specialties, to some extent by yir-
tue OF their customers interests, more
fully realize in considering their in
terests as a separate class in the gen.
eral makeup of industry, that each dis
tinct part of their business is the bet
ter served and appreciated when some
apDrOach is made TO the American idea
of co-oiperation for them as class,
both i'm Offering and receiving from the
people the privileges and returns Of
their separate businesses. OF vital and
great interest is it 70 the public and the
concerns themselves that exact knowl-
edge of conditions to business shall be
made known TO such concerns as
class and the demands of those condi-
tions be met at their hands by united
means and effect.
The spirit of competition in whole
sale and manufacturing lines in the city
will no doubt always have its allotted
Mace in business regulations, but such
interests claim that it is not the entire
foundation of their business in the lgnt