Eddy, Arthur Jerome: The new competition: an examination of the conditions underlying the radical change that is taking place in the commercial and industrial world ; the change from a competitive to a cooperative basis (New York [u.a.], 1912)

COMPETITION IS WAR

33
public reap the benefit in the way of low prices while the
war is on?”
“Yes, but-”
What is the use of arguing with a man who thinks
that competition of that character is beneficial ?

IX
Then there is the disreputable competition of those who
sell out and immediately go into business again in opposi-
tion to purchasers who buy in good faith.
The law permits the purchaser to take a limited contract
restraining the seller from immediately competing, but,
aside from such contracts, and often in evasion of them, men
who sell their establishments with good-will take the money
they receive and open up in the same town, the same block,
to get the very trade they sold.
This is dishonorable but—competition, and the com-
munity is supposed to benefit economically from a condi-
tion that is morally bad—does it ?
X
The great mass of mankind are both sellers and buyers.
As sellers they would stifle competition; as buyers they
would foster it.
Unhappily, they actually try to do both. The farmer
demands freedom to organize his cooperative societies, but,
in the same breath, demands laws to prevent other classes
doing the same thing.
The laborer insists upon his right to organize unions
and dictate wages, and, in the same breath, calls for the
enforcement of the law against the organization of em-
ployers.