The age-herald., 1901-11-10

previously bought several hundred thou sand pieces of gray cloth, prices stiffen- ing on his purchase, and since then and | in consequence of this act, another mer- chant said yesterday, the market has been stronger. His purchase of the gray print cloth sent up the price from ? 7-16 cents to cents.
 When that advance was followed by MT. Borden's announcement that he would pay his workmen 5 per cent more wages, there arose the usual speculation as to just what his scheme of business was. His adverse critics said that he had found that he had not succeeded in cornering the market and therefore had set himoelf to increase the troubles of his competitors by forcing them either to meet his advance in wages or stand Q strike.
 His action would also tend-to strength en the market by stiffening prices and so prevent the slump which might have been expected to follow an imperfect cor ner, said these critics. And as he had possessed himself of much of the availa- ble stock, but not all of it at low prices, this stiffening of the market would heighten the cost of the remaining stock to his competitors. To meet his advance in wages would increase the cost of pro- duction to them, while to refuse 1t and face a strike would not only cause a loss to them, but also inure to his good by keeping stocks low. Thus, said the critics, Mir. Borden was playing sort of heads win, tails you lose" game with his competitors, he being able to sustain the additional cost of $25,000 a year that his increase in wages would en- tail. while they could not afford it.
 This view was not shared by all those who were affected by MT. Bordens ac- ton, however. One who spoke from Q different standpoint said:
 Good in Two Ways.
 If MT. Borden has made money and now is willing to divide some of it with his employees, why, it seems to me that he is simply showing himself mighty good fellow If at the same time he finds it good business stroke to do so, why, doesn't that show that he knows how to do good business?
 Suppose that In conducting his own business, and incidentally sharing good results with his employees, he does force competitors into the position of raising the wages of their employees, too, and thereby increase the cost of production to them, what has he to do with that question? He is in business for himself as they are for themselves"
 These two opinions typify the discus sions that arise upon each new move of this character made by MT. Borden. There Is immediately an outbreak of de- nunciation of him for a selfish abuse of power, and, if you look foc it, a discrim- mating commendation of him for his bus mess acumen. Upon his announcement Of the second 5 per cenr. increase of wages. all the bitterness with which he was criticised for his September increase was let loose again.
 Again 1t was intensified and the asser- tion made that Mir. Borden was mani festly determined to force his competi- tors to close their mills in order that he should not be obliged to take from them the print cloths which he is under contract to purchase at prices which he himself inflated. For 1t was known that he had bought some futures, or goods for future delivery, a procedure not un- precedented with him. It was charged that he was deliberately inviting strike among more than 10000 mill operatives
 Those who did not charge that he wanted to break contracts said that he