St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-12-17
What is Fairness in Business?

EDITOR CALEDoNIAN:-A recent occur
renee here has induced me to make few
observations for the readers of this
paper. What is fairness in business
The shortest definition can give of it is,
to live and to let live. Any other method
than this in business cannot be called le-
gitimate or fair.
There is an idea prevalent, even among
pretty good men, that almost anything
is fair in business. The argument often
is, II will look out for myself, and you
may look out for yourself. If | worst
you in trade, you must look sharper
next time" just as much as to say that
conscience and moral action in a trade
was of no account anyway. 1t may be
said, Il do not trade with you for the fun
OF the thing, but for what | can make
out of you. ] don't allow my conscience
to interfere at all in my trades"
The man who leaves his conscience out
OF his business, and depends upon his
"shre wdness" for success makes a
mighty bad mistake; for we all know
that very often what is called shrewd-
ness, is only another name for downright
meanness. True shrewdness is simply a
clear far seeing mind, only exercised on
legitimate lines for fairness and right
But when it seeks to be cunning, then it
desccnds to low and offensive things.
The man who can command large cap.
ital, if he be not well cultivated man,
may do mischief where Others would do
good. For instance, he is enabled to buy
in large quantities, will sell low, and just
about ruin his neighbor in the same bust
ness, who pays the regular market prices,
and who is trying to support his family,
educate his children, and live happy
life. Manifestly, this man does not care
so much about benefitting the commu-
nifty, as to worry out, and kill off some
body else. Now what sort of a spirit is
it that delights in cutting another's cor
ners? What kind of spirit is it in man
that externally wants the whole turkey to
himself, and is perfectly willing the devil
should take the hindmost?
1t is plain that some men in business
act more like the beasts of the field, than
like intelligent beings. They are expert
grabhers. Like the swine in the pen,
they will grab until they get about all
there is, then they will grunt with SUI
preme satisfaction at their cunning sue
cess. II any one can tell the great differ
ence between selfish grabber and hog,
they can do more than can.
If man now goes into business in st.
st. Johnsbury, where he can do fairly
well, perhaps two or three more will step
right in and divide the profits, which, to
say the best we can, is only sufficient Tor
those already in, and perhaps causes
them all to "live at at "a poor dying rate. "
In this letter am not speaking of that
little army of respectable business men,
who, have no doubt are doing the best
they can to be fair with all men; but
more particularly Of that class noted for
its selfshness in business-of it's desire to
build itself up, by pulling some one else
down. On the whole, would it not be
better to be fair in business at all times
that the homely, good old saying
might oftener prove true, that it is better
to live and to let live?
F. V. POWERS.
st. Johnsbury, VT, Dec. IS, 1897.