The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-10-24
These Two Glasses May Be De-
scribed as Privileged and
Competitive. :.
INTERESTS OF THE TWO
ALWAYS DIAMETRICAL
Privileged Glass Is Entrenched
: Behind Tariffs, Franchises,
and Kindred Policies.

P. C.. Burns chairman of the Manu-
facturers' Bureau of. the Democratic
National Committee, received from
G. A. Briggs, manufacturing COM
petitor in the same business-naking
Independent telephone supplies and
electrical goods-the following letter,
drawing a distinction between busi-
ness men who are privileged under
Republican policies, and those who
are compelled to meet composition:
Dear Mr.. Burns: I enclose here
with a letter written by me some time
ago as an answer to the circular sent
by President Van Cleave Of the Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers,
relative to the work he did at the
Republican National convention.
The Enclosed Letter.
1T is with sincere regret we note
the effort Mr.. Van Cleave is making
to line up all business men for Mr..
Taft, notwithstanding there are two
distinct kinds Of business men whose
interests are Numerically opposed
These two classes may be described
as privileged and competitive
'The former is entrenched behind
too high tariffs, patent rights, fran
chises and ownership Of natural re-
sources. Its financial success is not
primarily dependent upon the quality
of service rendered and to the extent
that competitive business men use the
product Of this class as raw material
they must pay tribute to privilege.
"Competttive business on the other
hand not being safegnarded by special
legislation, must depend for financial
success wholly upon the quality Of
It's services and it's ability to purchase
raw materials on the basis Of equality
with competitors.
"Since privileged business controls
largel ythe raw materials of competi-
tive business. the success Of any ven
ture OF the lat tter-c ass H. largely de-
pendent upon the good will, interest
or SWhim Of the former. So long,
therefore, as competitive business
continues to permit privileged busi-
ness to pat it condescendingly on the
back and say, We business men must
stand together SO long will competi-
tive industries yield precarious
living and privilege continue to alb
sorb so much Of the nations wealth
as to make business disaster the rule
rather than the exception.
For instance, in the business with
which we are associated the higher
prices we have to pay for raw mate
ials because of the tribute demanded
ythose who are entrenched in privi-
lege, makes it necessary for us to
recoup either by paying lower wages
or asking a higher price from the
consumer, and the latter course is
open only 50 long as the class Of
privilege does not, for selfish reasons.
favor one or more Of our competitors,
businesses like our are thus de-
pendent On the benevolence of our
natural enemy, privilege, while the
kind Of. efforts Mr.. Van Cleave is
making befog the atmosphere by
uniting those antagonistic elements
In movement which is calculated to
1nc1te and intensity class feeling
among working men against business
men.
I'm the interest of American patriot
ism, as we'll as in the interest of free
competition and no special ADVANTAGES
IN business we are hope, full that COM
pet1tive business men may see through
the sophistry Of the movement to lead
them into a political alliance with bus
mess concerns that operate, under the
advantages Of special legislative ana
executive privileges Of one kind or
another. G. A. BRIGGS"