New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-21


~ ness. as vice and
virtue. The one is a
commercial benefac-
ton; the other is the bane of COM
mercial and sociological conditions.
The legitimate bargain comes
from Il trade transaction that
gives needed benefit to some man
ufacturer or operator. The reali-
zatlOn OF cash, even at an apparent
loss, saves him from greater loss:
and often prevents the closing OF
factories employing hundreds or
thousands of employees.
Such Il loss is borne by the bal
ance sheets of the capitalist. The
merchandise which the transaction
sends for public distribution under
price, brought fH rnges to the
skilled wOrkmen that produced it:
and its prompt disposal means the
retaining of those WOrkmen at full
wages without loss of time
Such merchandise is also a bene-
faction TO those that buy it: for it
is honest and worthy, and pos
sesses all the qualities which it
represents.
Thus the legitimate bargain is
benefactiOn to
THE PIBL/C-because IT Is.
real ecOAOmy-
THE LABORER- Jccuusc h.
received fill lcoges, and IS
sdred loss of time
THE WANJFACTJRER or
OPERATOR bccoHsc the
benefit Of prompt cash emu
bies him to quickly ripe ont
his loss by Hew. proftable
OperuttOAs.
On the other hand. the limitation
Bargain is Il cOnnivance for public
deception. 1t is the resort OF the
weakling attempting to dispara@e
the real bargain by makeshifts and
cheats.
Naturally there are limitations
to real bargains. Legitimate losses
fortunately are Il very insignificant
percentage of commercial trlnSac-
tiOns. And these offerings natu-
rally go to the most Wide-awake
buyers. and the stores having
largest regular accounts with the
concerns.
Thus the other concerns that
seek to initiate the successful stores
connive at the production OF cheap
goods for make-believe cOmpeti-
ton.
Thus have grown up countless
factories for the making of bar
gains, and they stop at no device
or resource for cutting down the
cost.
Everything is sacrificed but the
outside appearance.
Shoddy materials are used. and
cheap labor.
Manufacturing industries are de
mOralized. The population OF entire
villages is taught to >kimp and
scamp the work. in a rush and
hurry that racks nervous systems,
precludes the possibility OF using
skill, and destroys the moral recti-
tude OF entire communities.
Perhaps no evil exists today that
Is broader and more far-redchIng
i'll its disastrous effects ON social
and commercial life than the Indus
try OF Manufacturing Bargains.
In the first place, il makes cheats
and bad wOrkmen OF countless BOYS
and men who might otherwise be-
come mechanics of high skill. whose
products would be real benefit to
the world
1t tends to cut down wages. BE-
cause no real skill Is required and
u boy can do the work OF a man, q
girl the work of woman.
1t saps the honesty and ambition
from thousauds-yeS, millions OF
American working people
And il fills homes with Tickety
furniture, clothes people with UNI
healthy and unSightlv garments,
feeds people ON poisoned food
All because the public has not
learned to discriminate between the
legitimate and beneficial bargain OF
trade, and the cheat that is Us
great an evil To him that makes as
her that buys