Dry bread; or, The reign of selfishness

Preface To Second Edition

The story told in this book is of a nation, rather than of men arid women.

The individuals whose fortunes are interwoven with the nation’s history represent the two great classes of society— the very poor and the very rich. The tendency of business to become concentrated in the hands of a comparatively few rich men and great corporations controlling large capitals has caused widespread alarm, not only in the ranks of the poorer, but among the middle classes. This concentration of business and money strikes directly at the MIDDLE CLASS of society. It takes the business and occupations from the moderately well-to-do, and each year thousands of this class sink into a condition little better than that of the unskilled laborer. Even within the short space of time since the first edition of this book was issued, combinations of capitals and industrial trusts have been formed which closely resemble in method and consequence the combinations described in the Reign of Selfishness.

The concentration of capital and business reduces the demand for labor, notably in the clerical depart-

IV

PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.

merits, and deprives vast numbers of smaller dealers (manufacturers and merchants), of their means of livelihood.

It is claimed by many that this concentration of capital and business is inimicable to the welfare of the majority of the people, and should be checked. To do this without shock to the practical sense* of justice which prevails in every community, and to maintain the rights of property and the individual, a ‘‘Limited Capital Law” might be enacted, such as described in the forty-fifth chapter of this book (see Chapters XLV. to XLIX.).

Such a law would interfere with the schemes of thousands of enterprising and ambitious money-getters, but it would be a wonderful boon to millions of the best people of the world who are not great money-getters but who are wilhng to live and let live. S. W.

1 -’

The Reign of Selfishness.

CHAPTER I. “the corporation and the man.”

Pactolus, in the State of Midasia, was one of those cities which, through location, climate and favorable environments, become great centers of commerce.

Her citizens were alert, enterprising and thrifty.

Many years of almost uninterrupted prosperity caused the city to become rich ; but, as the wealth increased, it centered in a small circle, and the rich men of Pactolus became few in number.

While every element in nature seemed to labor with bounteous good will for the prosperity of all, hard times, poverty and suffering were the constant companions of the people.

It became a city of great merchants, great manufactures and great manipulators of finance.

The house of Lyman Holt was one of the landmarks of trade in Pactolus.

There was an air of prosperity about the house of Holt which seemed to permeate the whole establishment.

The business had always been conducted on a lib-

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eral, wholesome basis and it appeared to glide along without friction.

i'he clerks, porters and even the office boys had a comfortable appearance and they looked as though they fed on the fat of prosperity.

The private office of Mr. Holt was one of those cosy dens from whence proprietors of great business houses direct their movements in the channels of commerce.

The surroundings were sumptuous. Plate-glass partitions, leather-covered settees, lounges and chairs and rich rugs of the most artistic patterns contributed to the rendering of business life not only pleasant but also seemed to cushion the cares of business.

If Lyman Holt had been less honest and less manly (or as some would say less eccentric) he doubtness would have continued in the enjoyment of the comforts which accompany a good income and high social standing.

By thrift and industry be became one of the leading oil refiners of Pactolus. He was a sterling representative of that middle class which is the real strength of every nation.

One afternoon as he was in his office talking with his friend Dr. Clark, two gentlemen entered.

‘‘How do you do, gentlemen?” said Mr. Holt greeting the visitors ; then turning to the Doctor he said, “ Dr Clark, allow me to introduce Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Peed.”

“Ah Doctor, eh,” said Mr. Peed smiling, “I hope you are squeezing some of his fat fees into oil.”

“No, no,” said the doctor, “I don’t speculate. I can make more money feeling the pulse of my patients, than the pulse of the market.”

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And the doctor bowed himself out.

The gentlemen made themselves comfortable, and as they smoked, discussed trade in a general way.

After a while, Mr. Reed said : By the way. Holt, how would you like to sell out ? ’’

Sell out ?” asked Holt, in surprise.

Yes, and retire. You have been a pretty hard worker for a long time and I should think you would like a little rest.”

‘‘Well,” said Holt, “as far as rest is concerned, I never felt less need of it, and I have no desire to sell out. Why do you ask such a question ? ”

“ Well, there was ho special reason,” replied Sinclair, “except that the Banner Company is going into your line and may run you a little hard in competition.”

“I never yet was afraid of competition, and I hope I never will be,” exclaimed Holt rather warmly.

“I don’t suppose you are,” said Reed. “But at the same time it is pretty hard to buck against the company.”

“I don’t think I am bucking against the company,” returned Holt.

“But you are.”

“I don’t see how that can be,” said Holt. “ The company does not make the kind of oil I do.”

“But they want to,” said Sinclair with a meaning smile.

“Well,” said Holt, hotly ; “ they can’t and they won’t.”

“Now, now ! ” said Reed, soothingly, “ there is no occasion for getting angry. This is business. The company want to make a proposition in a friendly spirit.”

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‘‘ Well,” said Holt, ‘‘what is the proposition in a friendly spirit ? ”

“Of course,” said Eeed, “you understand that the company is very rich and has considerable power ”

“ I don’t care a d for its riches or its power,”

burst out Mr. Holt.

“Now, one moment, please. I know you don’t care for that but, as a matter of policy ”

“ Policy ! I don’t do things from policy,” burst out Holt.”

“ I know you don’t, and I was unfortunate in the selection of words. I meant to say, as a matter of business don’t you think it would be better to be on friendly terms with the company ? ”

“ I don’t care whether I am on friendly terms with it or not,” answered Mr. Holt with dignity.

Mr. Eeed smiled good-naturedly as he made a gesture of despair.

“We don’t suppose you do care for the company. Why should you ? But the fact is, the company want to branch out in your line and it was suggested that your plant might be purchased. Now, that is the whole business, blunt and to the point. That is,” Eeed added with a smile, “provided a thing can come to a point if it is blunt.”

“ Well,” said Holt, with a grim smile, we may find a point and a period too. Now you must excuse me, gentlemen, if I seem a little discourteous ; but I will tell you frankly that I do not like either the company nor its methods of doing business. Now, what do you propose ? ”

“It was suggested,” said Sinclair, “that you set a price on your plant and the company will consider it. ”

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But/’ objected Holt, ‘‘suppose I don’t want to sell?”

“ I have no reason to entertain any but the most friendly feelings toward you, and in that spirit as a friend, I advise you to sell.” This was said by Eeed, gravely and earnestly. “Now, Mr. Holt,” he added, ‘ ‘ if you will consider the matter we will call to see you again. ” He paused — “ When ? ”

“For an answer as to whether I will sell or not ?”

“ And your price, ” added Eeed.

“ Provided it gets as far as that,” said Holt.

“Always provided,” assented Eeed.

“Well, then, Wednesday next. Is that convenient ? ” inquired Holt.

“ Thanks, that will do,” said Sinclair ; and the interview ended.

By the following Wednesday, Mr. Holt had made up his mind that he would offer his plant to the company for $100,000, * which was a fair valuation, all things considered.

He had not come to this conclusion until he had discussed the matter with a number of practical men.

Messrs. Eeed and Sinclair received his offer, and said they would present it to the company.

The next day they returned and made Mr. Holt an offer of $50,000 and position as superintendent at a salary of $5,000.

Mr. Holt indignantly rejected the offer and said, “ Gentlemen, I have carried on this business singlehanded for twenty-five years and with your kind permission I shall continue to do so.”

* In referring to money the author will use the names applicable to American Currency (dollars and cents) instead of those applied to the coin of Midasia; the coins of both countries being very nearly alike in value,

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CHAPTER 11.

THE GREAT COMPANY.

A CRAZE for money-making had taken possession of the citizens of Pactolus and everything was sacrificed to this infatuation.

Injustice and oppression were by no means uncommon and yet Midasia was not a barbaric country; on the contrary it had reached the highest state of enlightenment.

It had reached that high state of enlightenment where the citizen ignores everything except self -in terest.

“ Have I a direct personal interest in this matter ? ” How does it concern my personal estate ? ”

Can I make any money out of it ? ”

‘‘How does it affect my pocket ? ”

“Why should I give my time and attention to it if I do not receive a direct reward ? ”

Such were the tests and declarations applied by the citizens of Midasia and especially of Pactolus to all questions affecting the welfare of their nation and the common interests of the people.

As a consequence a once public-spirited, patriotic and liberty-loving people, when too late, found themselves in the power of an oligarchy which reduced the whole nation to a condition of practical slavery.

This condition was brought about by such insidi-

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ous means as to be scarcely noticed until the people were dependent on the men who controlled the oligarchy.

Every man for himself/’ was the motto of the people of this nation, and they believed that they were too smart to waste their time or energies on any concern which did not give them a direct cash return.

‘‘ I have no time to work for anybody or anything but myself,” was a common remark of these citizens, and in a very short time the whole nation was working for twenty-five hundred rich families, working like slaves to make those twenty-five hundred rich families richer.

The Great United Supply Company was the most powerful and was also the richest organization in the world ; it might be more proper to say that it was the most wonderful chain of organization that ever existed, its capital amounted to thousands of millions of dollars, it had its agencies in every in habitable place on the globe.

It was hated, feared and its will respected wherever men desired either money or liberty. It was hated and feared by those forming a part of it, those connected with it, and those outside of it. Its only object was to make money. Each day saw that object growing in an increased measure.

Warren Stillpool was its president, a man of masterly mind, cold, passionless, inexorable ; what he desired to do he did regardless of consequences. He would not kill a fly needlessly, but he would sacrifice the lives of ten thousand men, if necessary, to the furtherance of his interests. His ability to fathom men was starthng. Half of his great

THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS.

abilities and success lay in his discernment in selecting his lieutenants and chaining them to his interest. By this great faculty he held them as firmly to his fortunes as though they were confined by lock and bolt.

Another element which contributed greatly to his success was his ability to accurately weigh and place a proper value on elements favorable and unfavorable to his interests.

He had an utter contempt for what is known as ‘‘ Popular Opinion.’’

‘‘What is ‘popular opinion?’” he would say, “ an aggregation of particles which will not fuse and which is likely to separate into particles immediately after coming together.

“It is like a fiock of birds, which may be scattered by a gesture, a sound or a blow.”

He often said, “ Men and women have too many personal interests to look after, to give attention to common concerns. They are too busy earning their living — with their business interests — in ]natters of their individual concern — to spend their time in anything that is not interwoven with their personal affairs.

“ Society is so conducted that it takes all of the average man’s time to make a living and he cannot afford to devote any of it to even the gravest of public concerns.

“Public spirit is of necessity spasmodic, and shortlived.”

For these reasons Mr. Stillpool had no fear of public opinion interfering with any of his doings, even though they were what is termed “outrages” on individual rights or on the rights of the body politic.

l^HE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS.

Every branch of trade and commerce, every product of the soil, the bowels of the earth, the compass of the sea, every creation of the brain or hand of man was under his control or was being irresistibly drawn toward him.

By the skillful use of the bait self interest ’’ Mr. Stillpool ensnared a whole nation and kept it as in a net.

With the aid of the great modern abridgers of time, electricity and the engines of concentrated motive power, the company from its inception increased in wealth and strength.

About three years before the inception of the company, perhaps it is safe to say, many years before, there existed similar organizations, but on a less comprehensive scale ; there were many such in all parts of the globe, timidly experimenting with the policy of uniting for the purpose of concentrating strength and strangling suicidal competition.

Mr. Stillpool conceived the idea of fusing into a solid force all the corporations and organizations of sufficient importance to contribute strength to the united body and at the same time of crushing out the unimportant and weak ones.

Up to his thirtieth year Mr. Stillpool had been a clerk in the oil house of Mr. Holt, his salary had been small, and as salaries went, it was all he was worth. He manifested no special aptitude for the business. What he had to do he did without meriting or receiving either praise or blame; nobody could say that he was what was called smart,’’ no intelligent person would pronounce him stupid ; he might have been called a dreamer who dreamed tHE REIGN OP SELPISHNESS.

with one eye open. With that eye he managed to see all that was going on around him.

Mr. Holt’s business controlled a special line of oil or rather a special method of treating it.

After Mr. Stillpool had turned his thirtieth year, the business of Mr. Holt collapsed.

THE REIGN OF SELFISHNESS.

Chapter III

MR. HOLT FIGHTS THE COMPANY.

One week after Mr. Holt’s rejection of the company’s offer, his agents in the oil fields informed him that the railroads had refused to ship supplies to him. Indignant demands of the cause brought polite replies to the effect that their contract with the Banner Company taxed their facilities to the utmost.

Living in a free country, a rich man, clear-headed, doing a large business and having an influential connection both business and social, Mr. Holt considered such conduct an outrage. He protested, sputtered,” talked about his ^‘rights,” the obligations of common- carriers,” ‘^justice” and all such nonsense. He undertook to flght and failed. He tried to prepare his oil at the wells and carry it to the market by water at ruinous expense, and failed. He tried the courts and failed; the legislature and failed. His antics were as amusing to the Banner Company as the struggles of the fly in the spider web are supposed to be to the cunning spider.

One of his friends summed the matter up thus, “he is in the position of a man in a whirl-pool, if we go to his aid we may be swamped ourselves ; self-preservation is the first law of nature, he has brought the trouble on himself, he should have compromised, — life is too short too waste any of it in trying to save cranks.”

1 6 ME REIGN OF SELEISHNEI:^^.

‘‘ But/’ protested another, he is fighting for a principle, what happens to him may haiipen to all of us. I tell you there is danger in allowing this thing to go on; we ought to join forces and aid Holt.’’

‘‘Nonsense,” said another, “his is an isolated case. I don’t think the company can do any general harm, there is a limit to its powers for mischief, and if there were anything of a general onslaught made by the company against the business interests of the community, there would be a general uprising which would clean it out. In the meantime, poor Holt is unfortunate, he will have to go, as one of the atoms which stand in the way of corporate progress and the spirit of combination which is one of the irrepressible elements of the age.”

Late one afternoon Mr. Holt got into his carriage and drove home. He walked up the stoop wearily. At dinner he was absent-minded, and his face had a troubled look.

“What is the matter, Lyman?” his wife asked anxiously.

“Nothing,” he said hastily as he glanced at his daughter and son.

After dinner he went to his library, there his wife followed and sitting beside him, said, “There is something the matter, Lyman, tell me what it is.”

He turned his head away and remained silent.

“Tell me. Please tell me,” she pleaded.

For a moment he compressed his lips in an effort to control his emotion, then leaning toward his wife until his lips almost touched her ear, he said in a scarcely audible whisper, “My dear, we haven’t a dollar in the world.’'

“What ?” she cried.

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‘‘I have fought them off as long as I could,” he said in a weak voice, but it has come at last, I am ruined,” and he buried his face in his hands.

Mr. Holt’s business was sold with its secrets, patents and processes, — the Banner Company was the purchaser ; then the dreaming of Mr. Stilpool became practical, his opportunity had come, the company took him into its employ. Inside of one year he developed great skill as a negotiator and organizer.

In the East were large factories and mills capable of supplying the world with all kinds of commodities — cotton and woollen goods, shoes and household supplies.' Such was their capacity that they could by working from four to six months, stock the markets of the whole country with goods sufficient to last a year or more. They were a source of national pride and national ruin.

Between these mills and factories there was a suicidal competition.

The idea of utilizing the vast capital of these mills and factories by concentrating or consolidating their business with that of the Banner Company was conceived and planned by Stilpool ; he presented it to the managers of the Banner Company. The idea was scouted as visionary and impracticable, but he brought facts and figures to his aid, which caused the opposition to soften and dissolve until the feasibility of the scheme found its most enthusiastic advocates in its former most incredulous opponents.

The directors called a meeting to discuss the matter, and Stilpool, after laying his facts, figures and plans before the board, said :

‘‘The object of this corporation is to make

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money, it was created to make money in one branch of the oil business, it now makes money in all of its branches. It has sovereign control of one product of the country, its members control a large portion of the railroad interests of the whole country. Why should those two great interests in the hands of the same men be kept separate ? The saving in agencies and salaries and general wear and tear will go far towards swelling the dividends, and much of the money which now goes outside of the company will be kept within its circle.

‘‘ It seems incongruous, yet we see so-called drygoods stores selling under one roof and under one management everything a man or woman can wear or use ; various necessaries of life which a few years ago you would be obliged to seek in one hundred and fifty different stores, in one hundred different kinds of business, you now find in one store, under one man’s control. One great expense in business is labor. As you concentrate business you reduce the demand for labor, here you see a vast profit in saved pay-rolls. This is done profitably on a small scale, why not on a large scale ? It is done retail, why not wholesale ? The more you concentrate business the less it costs to manage it. Then look at the expense of competition, why should capitalists waste their efforts in fighting among themselves ? They must live on the masses who are ready and willing to toil for them. By concentrating these various interests your incomes will be expanded to an unheard-of extent.”

Mr. Stilpool was sent to negotiate with the Eastern mill owners and manufacturers. After a few visits and in the course of a few months^ several

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of the largest were won over ; those who refused to be convinced by arguments were brought into line by harsher measures ; those who stood out stubbornly were crushed as was poor Mr. Holt.

The capital of the company was now enormous and its power terrible ; the great grain syndicate next united its interests with the Banner Company, thus the grain product of the West, the manufactories of the East, the oil and coal product of the seaboard, the great commodities of the South, as well as a large portion of the railroads of the country were united under one management. Mr. Stilpool’s prophecy was fulfilled. The skillful manipulation of these interests with the absence of competition, the power to regulate the supply to meet the demand, yielded the company vast profits and enabled the directors to pay large dividends. The stock of the company rose rapidly. Then it was discovered that the charter of the Banner Company was not broad enough and its powers and its capital were limited. A new company was formed, and a charter procured from the legislature, worded so as to give it unlimited power and unlimited capital.

Mr. Stilpool had not forgotten his self-interest ; from his position in the company, he had been able to benefit friends and profited by the benefit of his friends, so that in the course of less than one year, his interest in the company had increased from a small salary to a large amount of dividendbearing stock. He also had a large constituency among the stockholders, who recognized his services and his ability to further serve them by electing him, in turn, secretary, vice-president, and presh dent of the company,

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CHAPTER IV. ‘‘every man for himself.”

The moral tone of Midasia was in a condition to welcome the company and its consequences. Vast numbers of people proclaimed by word and deed that they were tired of what was called “goodygoody ” conduct. They emphasized their contempt for honor and integrity, by applauding success, though won by flagrant treachery or even theft. Nowhere were lax morals more apparent than in the selection of men for public offices.

When we consider what the people had to contend against, it is not to be wondered that they yielded to temptation and followed in the train of corruption, which seemed to be indigenous to the times. There was the ever-present example of the most prodigal extravagance and applauded success. A man’s expenditures were the index of his wealth and his wealth was index of his worth. To imitate the extravagances of a petty prince was the highest ambition of society, to get into the circle of those who could imitate such extravagance was the ambition of most people outside of that circle ; then came the struggle to get the money for keeping up such extravagant methods of living ; and a desperate struggle it was — honor, justice and friendship were forgotten and even good name and personal liberty were risked in the struggle. Speculathe reign op selfishness.

tion was rife in every line of life and business. Business was demoralized.

In the mad struggle for wealth, every obligation was forgotten. Friends betrayed friends, promises were broken and the most solemn obligations were ignored.

Men, women and children gambled ; distrust was the rule, and more than ever every man for himself,” became the motto for individuals. The doings of the company were heralded abroad in the most extravagant manner and all sorts of interest clamored for admission to its privileges, each acquisition seemed to enhance the value of its stock. The wildest rumors were set afloat in regard to the transactions of the company.

To pay tribute to the Caesar in being was the ef fort of everyone. Some one has said, ‘‘If you doq’t need help everybody is ready to help you,” Never was this saying more effectually exemplified ; everything that the citizens could do to aid in the aggrandizement of the company was done eagerly and with alacrity.

Legislatures were memorialized to grant more and more extraordinary powers. Powers and rights heretofore unheard of were granted almost without question — measures which had always been regarded as inimical to personal liberty or dangerous to public weal were introduced in the legislature and those who opposed them were hooted at as public enemies and after a brief struggle (if a futile remonstrance followed by a storm of hisses or a sneering speech could be called a struggle) passed.

A legislator remarked :

“ The people know what they are after, the legis-

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lature knows what it is after, and the company knows what it is after.” Every one for himself and for money.”

Then followed the result.

By degress each industry came under the control of the company.

Men and firms and some corporations stood out manfully against the company and fought for existence but the best of them could not stand long.

The people at large did not sustain them. Trade is selfish and a little present advantage was regarded as more profitable than making sacrifices for principle.

Men who asserted that the encroachments of the company were dangerous became huts for ridicule.

They were called ‘‘alarmists” and their “wild theories” were sneered at.

It must not be supposed that all this demoralization of society went on without protest. There was a cry of reform all along the line. To do it justice, the press did its duty and exposed frauds, corruption and veniality. The pulpit flung out its warnings of the dangers and the awful consequences of forgotten obligations.

Publicists and essayists demonstrated in a thousand different ways, that civilization could not stand the strain of the corrupting influence at work on the body politic.

Professional and business men discussed each new evidence of moral turpitude with serious mien. Grand jurors made presentments commenting upon the dangerous moral condition of society.

Reform socities were started and flourished ; reform became a fashionable craze and a fashionable jest ; still crimes multiplied ; injustice spread and corruption flourished.

In spite of all these efforts to promote reform (it cannot be said that the efforts were not serious), there was a feeling of impending evil, which seemed to urge the people to avoid the threatened danger, and yet, what could they do — what could all the editors, preachers, essayists and reformers do. against the system which was honey-combing society with corruption ? Everybody knew it was wrong and admitted that it was dangerous and that it ought to be remedied ; but what could be done, what could people do with a system which held them as if chained? Money was the god they worshipped, without money man was a nonentity and the motto seemed to be, Get money anyway,’’ and so long as a man kept out of prison, it mattered little how he got it. Warnings of approaching danger to individual and locality were unheeded, people saw the effect of the encroachment of the company and saw it come almost to their own threshold, even crushing their next-door neighbor, and they said, ‘‘As long as I am safe, I need not trouble myself about it.’’ They saw it strike at their near relatives and said, ‘ ‘ I am too weak to flght the company and while I hold my own I will not complain.” Every man seemed to indulge in a wild hope that some lucky stroke of fortune would give him enough money to make him independent of his fellows and that circumstances would place him in a position where he could participate in the prosperity of the company.