Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-08-09
Why Not Compete in Honesty
The Obvious as Well as Best Future
Policy For All Railroads, Ship
pers, Manufacturers and
Traders.
tFrom the New York journal of Commerce and
Commercial Bulletin)
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Much of tho iniquity perpetrated
In the name of business, such as dis
elimination in transportation rates,
the adulteration of foods and various
tricks of deception by which one tries
to get the better of another in the
strife for profit, is attributed to the
eNigencies of competition. One un-
sc"upulous concern seeks an unlaw-
full advantage in some deal" with a
railroad, and others feel bound to do
the same in order to escape icing
distanced in competition. When ne
railroad under this kind of solicita-
tion grants special rates, pays re-
bates or otherwise favors a large
shipper, rival lines feel impelled to
make similar concessions in order to
secure their share Of the traffic. The
result Is competition in dishonesty
or lawlessness on the part OF both
shippers and common carriers. De-
fects of the law were no excuse for
such disregard of justice and honor
able conduct. But now the law has
been made eXplicit, so far as inter-
state commerce is concerned, and
practices for which stress of compe-
tition h"~ been pleaded as an excuse
CT extenuation are made criminal for
all concerned in them.
The obvious policy for railroads
and for shippers who desire to be
fair and decent now is to abandon all
devices of evasion and enter into a
competition for the observance of
the law and Of t principles of COM
mon honesty in their dealings. If
managers of one railroad line have
evidence tina. another is granting
illegal concessions or favors, it is
their duty to disclose the evidence,
to expose the wrong1 1o:ng and aid
til authoritie- to put stop to 1t
instead OF trying to get even. or more
than even, by committing the same
offences. It one shipper finds that
another Is getting anv advantage
over him in charges for transporta-
ton. instead of seeking to meet this
Wy a llht llt
should make complaint of the viola
tion and help to compel the observ
ance OF the law. Let there bo com
petition in doing justice and in fair
dealing, and these evils which Lave
caused so much agitation and occa-
stoned SO muct "hostile legislation"
hostile only to those who persist in
wrongdoing-will come to an end,
and it will be far better for all con-
cerned.
In the matter of providing the
supplies of food, drink and medicine
for the people. there is still freer
field for competition in individual
hon ;, and it Is one in which hon
esty will prove to be the best policy
from business point of view. Let
meat-packing house be made a
model of cleanliness and sound sani-
tary condition; let it take pains to
use only unquestionably wholesome
materials and methods; let 1t make
no Concealment and avoid no pub
licity so far as knowledge of the
character and quality of its products
is concerned; let it's labels and repre-
sentations of what it puts upon the
market bear the closest scrutiny, and
it may acquire reputation that will
be worth more than all the tricks and
devices which have been resorted to
In the past, and the detection and ey
pcsure of which is liable at any time
to sweep away the illegitimate gains
CT deception and fraud. Even if less
wealth should be accumulated. it
would be without the taint of igno-
miny and public contempt. and some
reward should be found in an hon
orable business reputation and pub
lie respect This applies equally to
the manufacturers of the various
kinds of prepared and preserved
foods, the production of which has
grown so enormously in recent years.
That the bulk of these are whole
some may be admitted. but in that
case there is no legitimate reason
for secrecy about the ingredients that
cutSl lHlo tucHl VI lHG ElCluouo vi
their prepara, ion, any more than
about raising corn or making cloth.
Secrecy and enigmatical names are a
cover for adulteration, the use of in
ferior or injurious material, or some
device involving deception or fraud
by which illesitimate profit is sought.
Honest purveyo.s Of food and the
various accompaniments of Good
have been wont to complain that
few INSCRIPTIONS persons may cheap
en-, aduterate and variously sophisti-
cate and misrepresent their products
SO tlat it becomes impossible to COM
pete with them without in some
measure yielding to their methods.
Many who would prefer to deal in an
honest and above-board fashion feel
compelled to vitiate their products,
and traders feei compelled to sell
articles which they know are not
what they pretend to be, in order to
keep up their trade and make fair
profit in competition with unscrupu
lous rivals So is business made dis
honest and dlsreputable by a rivalry
that demoralizes competition, making
1t competition in dishonesty. Let
honest manufacturers and dealers
make common cause with consumers
for effective laws and efficient ad-
ministration against the secrecy arl
deception and all the devices of fraud
in this business, and they may put an
end to its offences and the disrepute
into which it has fallen.