The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-03
Telephone No. 66.
THE CRAZE FOR cHDAPNBss.

There is a sad tendency on the part
of the public to try to get something
for nothing. This craze is very persistent,
although 1t is bound to prove disastrous,
both to those who try to get, and those
who seek to give, something for nothing
when business is done on the smallest
margin of profit Perhaps there is some
excuse for the harassed trader, anxious
to win place among the serrled ranks
of his eager competitors to give way to
such public demand. We are constantly
hearing homilies on the iniquity Of grasp
ing too big profits, and we are told to con-
slider mammoth traders who are making
fortunes by ''small profits and quick
returns" There is great temptation for
persons In business to ponder over these
freely preferred criticism; and seeing
the public eagerness for "cheapness" to
go In for the "smali profit" line of doing
business. But only too often this means
the paying OF low wages, exacting long
hours Of labor, and cutting down all out
goings as far as possible. The natural
result is, that the health and comfort
of the work people suffer-the proprietor
being unable to spend money in bringing
up his business premises to state which
conduces to the physical and moral we'll
being OF his hands" He himself is In
danger of starving, morally and physlc-
ally, for he finds his small profits In
sufficient to meet the natural require
ments of himself and family. And 80
there Is an endless, grinding struggle,
breeding discomfort and unhappiness
when II does not terminate in ruin in
volving loss to most people who have
business connections with him. He has
been eaten out Of house and home, and
practically robbed wholesale those who
supply him, through his attempt to COM
ply to the demands of the craze for
cheapness. Such men are often loudly
abused for their inhumaplty, because
they pay low wages demand long hours
of labor. and do not provide a variety
of small comforts for their work people,
But as matter of fact, the charge Of
inhumanity rests with his patrons--the
public, who demand cheapness. Looking
round about, one cannot help feeling that
this craze is beginning to react. The
public demands cheapness and they get
It. Often, however, they get inferior ar
ticles or services They encourage the
Importation of goods manufactured
abroad under conditions which disgrace
humanity. Again we have many traders
In small way, either going into bank
ruptcy, which involves considerable ag-
gregate loss to the community, or retire,
and help to swell the already over
crowded army of wage earners. on the
other hand, those who remain In busi-
ness. and endeavor to comply with the
insane public demand, have to pay low
wages and cut down their out-goings.
Consequently each individual has less
money to circulate, and the spending
power OF the whole nation is lowered
Meanwhile, as we have saida the public
cannot expect to secure the highest class
or goods, or the best service at "cheap
rate" so there Is wave of tawdrlness
and make shirt. The fact Is, we cannot
get away from the great truth, that "the
laborer Is worthy Of his hire. TO unduly
cut down his hire" Is to commit a
moral and economic wrong which cannot
but react on the wrong-doer. Thus we
come to the conclusion that to comply
with the demand for something for moth
ing (or very nearly so) is foolish on the
part of traders, and the demand on the
part Of the public. and OF individuals
is inexcusable In our exaggerated utill-
tarianism we forget to look ahead; the
man who succeeds In knocking on a six
pence here, or a sinking there, may
swell his bank account and wax fat,
nemesis must come In somo form. The
screw applied. In no matter how distant
apart. must be felt throughout organized
society sooner or later. One mans loss,
though for today it may be another mans
gain, is in reality a permanent loss to
the community.