The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-29
IN REPLY.
Denver Department Stores Again
Cited as the Horrible Example.

One would scarcely suppose that the scarf
Tying l received at the hands of Progress
In Mondays issue of the l o that l should
dare to attempt answer to his brilliant
communication. Fortunately have minia-
ture lexicon of my own that l hold in re-
serve for men of his presumed erudition. l
would suggest that he omitted the ''prosr Gritty
attachment III signing his contribution, as,
Judging from his logic, he belongs to that
clique of political economists.
Despite his contention that I made SER
1ous mistake in arguing the question from an
ethical standpoint" the results proved the
contrary to be a fact The effect of my
address is too apparent to need any comment.
In my recital of the incident in which the
Standard Oil company figured, during my resi-
dence in Denver, | made as conclusive an
argument as could possibly be adduced, to
prove that trust influences dominate the de-
partment store management and, while the
citizens may benefit for the time being, as
did the citizens of Denver while the freezing
out process was in progress, the ultimate re-
suit will inure to their ruin.
While my aim is to become a merchant,
am willing to submit to a reasonable re-
striction in order that others may be granted
the same opportunities as myself.
maintain that human greed and selfishness
If not limited by nature, in the interests Of
common humanity should be limited by law
Sarcasm is not argument; if it were PRO
greSs' would certainly have an irrefutable
communication to his credit. The fact that
cannot cite many instances of cooperation is
no argument against the justice of the sys-
tenn. Progress" would have believe that
because department stores are, they are right.
On these grounds | might point to the
gambling house, brothel, b1nd-pig 'debas-
ing literature and all'the brutal and licentious
amusementS" of an earlier age, which were
and are patronized by the people who fail
to appreciate their evil effect
That 1.-The people like to be humbugged''
accounts in a great measure for the success
OF the modern department stores People will
flock to them with their ready money while
the corner grocery and legitimate retailers are
carrying them on their books, and tiding them
over the hard times which the department
stores have helped to create.
Progress's" idea Of prosperity is evident
ly limited to his own circumscribed case,
ever shone upon" In the midst of unparal-
leled wealth and plenty we find restitution
distress, discOurag cement want misery and
despair. Crime abounds and suicide is on
the increase to an alarming extent. Many
people do not know what to do to get even
the p!ainest kind of a living.
Able business men who have lost their
capital are abundant, and many of them too
old to do manual labor, are seeking in vain for
some situation to earn enough to exist on
Many of them are in debt which they cannot
pay pay, 5puI which hangs like a l-stone
around their necks. 1t is impossible for
man to go into any business with a small
capital with reasonable hopes of success
The combination of capital is so complete in
every business of Importance that q barbed-
wire fence is placed around it, and now comes
the department store to monopoliZe the dis
lrlDuIlng agencies, and 1t finds it's defenders
among the very ones who have been disin-
her.ted by its methods. Yet Progress" finds
reason to gloat the glorious achievements
Of this country sinced the drafting of the
constitution. Why, with just and equitable
laws there ought not to be an involuntary
ldler upon this continent, but lust be-
cause our forefathers, In their honesty failed
to anticipate the influence which has domin-
ated their descendants, are we to stand idly
by and witness such conditions as exist in
our midst, without raising a protest for fear
our ideas conflict with the constitution Like
the Bible, which is continually being revised
TO meet the ideas of a more intellectual age
the constitution needs revision to meet the
conditions which were not Anticipated nv
the drafters OF that instrument hence were
not provided for.
The terrible examples I referred to would
shock the minds Of a forbearing public if
given vent to, are actual facts nevertheless
In conclusion. let me state that the super
hcialness of PROGRESSES" whole communica-
ton is apparent from his closing remark in
which he states 1.-THE growth Of department
stores is but the first step of commercial
progress If this is the extent of his in
vestigauons into the social problem the soon
er he devotes little of his valuable time to
the deeper phases Of the subject the better
will 1t be for those who waste their time in
reading his communications.
Respectfully Yours,
-T,Ouis Nash