The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-06-30
DEN1soN IOWA. June 80, 1899.
Competition VS.. Combination.

COmpeI4IAOA W.. VVmU1uaI4Ou
A friend commenting on our editorial
expression relative to socalled ''suc-
cess" said ''your advice is good, but
how is it to followedp" The speaker
was business man, a man who is in
competition with other business men
and by his question he meant to inquire
how he could do otherwise than strive
against his fellows if he did not wish to
see business disaster staring him in the
face. The question Is pertinent one
and brings us face to face with the two
opposing industrial conditions, COM
petition and socialism. If one mer-
chant pay less wages to his employees,
If he forces more work out Of himself,
if he deprives himself and others of the
comforts of life he will be able to un-
dersell and thus take the business away
from the man who pays better wages
and who wishes for himself something
better than the mere tread-mill of daily
labor.
We agree with the implied conclu-
sion of our friend that under existing
circumstances it cannot be done. We
cannot do it ourselves because Of the
existing conditions Of competition and
we cannot therefore reasonably expect
it of others. All this goes to show that
competitor while it may sharpen the
wits does not enlarge the intellect nor
ennoble the hearts of men. 1t is a con-
diti0n which calls out all that is worst
in man and very little of the best that
is in him. 1t is condition like that in
some of the Investment schemes one
hears of, in which one can win only
when another loses.
1t is tie recognition Of this unfruit-
full and unsatisfactory condition which
led to the formation of the labor union.
1t was found that unless the supply of
a certain class Of labor was limited the
workmen were obliged to underbid
each other, reducing wages to a point
just one notch above starvation, and
bene6ting only the capitalist. 1t was
to prevent this state of affairs that the
labor unions or trusts were formed. II
you wish to see an absolute trust OF
monopoly. combination as exactine
and in some ways as merciless as the
Standard Oil Company, visit the larger
cities and examine the workings of thu
stronger trades unions.
We have nothing to say against thesl
organizations, except that sometimes
not often, they abuse their power, fol
labor is the most helpless product o.
human activity and therefore needs tn,
greatest protection.
1t did not take capitalists long Il
learn the lessons taught by organized
labor. If the union or trust was goo6
thing for labor, why not for capital
And thus we saw the rise of the com
bination formed first to resist organized
labor and later becoming a large in
strumentality for the increase of pri
vate power. Almost any one will tel
you that he would not object to the
monopoly, if he were the monopoly
Much oftthe cry against these organiza
tions is of the same nature as the CRY
of the politician who proclaims whe1
his pet theory prevails that it Is vic
tory for the common people, anG
when his wishes do not carry, that it ii
a victory for the "boss'' and the ma
chine.
The combination is, as we have said
powerful instrument and in the hands
Of selfshness and greedit has become q
menace to every man who has no par
nor parcel with it. Dynamite in thu
hands of a maniac is fearful thine
yet dynamite used with intelligence
and care is tremendous aid to the in
terests and enterprises of civilization
We contend that the theory of the con
solidation of productive elements, and
enterprises is to be one of the greatest
factors of the coming and better civil
cation, but we contend also that the
trust or combination should not be
operated for the benefit of any one man
or collection of men; it should be fol-
the benefit of the people as whole. In
the combination is economy, and the
laws of the universe provide that what
ever is economical shall live, and what.
! ouor 10, vyo Of oE, ,Io11 <1,o