The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-07-10

(This is the second in a series OF
articles prepared by the Bureau Of
Research and Education of the Ad-
vertising Federation of America, IN
response to the increasing interest
of consumers in question affecting
advertising and business.)
In this country we have what is
known as free competitive econ
omy. This means that you or any
other individual may choose to pro-
duce goods if you wish, and you
are free to sell them at any price
you think others may be willing to
pay for them. Only you must not
cheat and you must not form
monopoly
We don't like monopolies in
America. Many years ago, we
passed laws prohibiting any COM
mercial combinations which destroy
competition. The interests of con-
sumers would inevitably suffer II
monopolies were permitted to con-
troll production and prices.
| Not all countries have free COM
petitive economies. now. In some
lands there is almost no freedom
OF competition. Americans think
such q condition intolerable. for
we believe that liberty would dis
appear If each of us did not have
the right to engage in any kind OF
competitive enterprise he might
choose We abhor the thought Of
l. Iso+n
sonal initiative.
Competition is<a~harder task mas
ter than dictator, but under 1t we
are free to make our own decisions
and we work for much better re-
wards than any dictator has to Of
fer. Individually, every one OF us
accomplishes more when he has to
i compete with others. 1t is the COM
bination of Individual competitive
efforts which brings about social
Improvement and progress.
Fundamentally, the urge to COM
pete is one of the most natural of
human traits. We want to get
ahead simply because we were
made that way Records made on
the athletic field, at the bridge Ia
BILE, and in Sunday school attend
ance are all higher because Of COM
petition. Similarly the desire to
excel has sharpened the skill OF
craftsmen, raised the level of pro-
fessional attainments, and inspired
the achievements of industry. Com
petition is the natural way OF life,
the way of human progress.
When there is lively competition
each manufacturer and dealer
strives continually and earnestly to
provide better goods, lower prices
and better service to the consumer
: The result is that we all get bet
ter things and more of them. Re-
CARELESS of other complicating prob
; lens, we can never get away from
the eternal fact that competition
and personal incentive together
form the most powerful of all forces
working for material progress.
In modern business, competition
comes to head in the selling Of
merchandise. With the development
of advertising, 'raerchants and man
ufacturers have come to use this
method for displaying their ware:
to the public. The efforts to make
better products and to sell then
more cheaply have their final ex
preston in advertising. The very
desire to have good article to ad
vertise has often been responsible
for improvement in product.
1t is truly said that advertising i
the life and the symbol of com
petition in business. Firms which
compete honestly also advertis
honestly Fair competition is tn
: only condition under which indus
, try can continue its progress. L
anything that may be done to reg
ulate practices, there must be n
restraint upon constructive compe
I. tition.
i History shows us some case
G where competition was abolishe
o through the establishment of me
IS nopolies. In very few specis
: types of industry. this may be dc
e sirable, but in most other cases tn
II has been bad for the public. Whe
n the incentive for improvement
J. removed, there can be no furtht
n progress. Control of productio
II and prices is almost always disa
e trous, for this means the stoppaf
IS of competition.
Sometimes we find business me
who would like to have restrain
ID placed upon competition. The
have so many troubles trying
IS keep their enterprises going, NEE
ing payrools and fighting compel
at ton, that they are tired of the c