Article December 21, 1987 Issue

Second Thought

Looking again at news and commentary

An advertisement, appearing in a major United States newspaper, touted a well-known business magazine. Beside a close-up of a male executive's head and shoulders it read: "I'd say we have a mature, responsible attitude toward our major competitors. We'd like to see them dead."

Editors' comment: Literally? We hope not! And yet the events that have rocked Wall Street and other business centers worldwide this year—characterized by insider trading, bankruptcy, and takeovers—seem more like scenes from a war zone than the outcome of "mature, responsible" attitudes. When the battle for survival becomes intense, the argument seems to be that the only good competitor is a dead competitor.

But is this the only option for those who want their businesses to prosper? Contrast the "knock 'em off" school of thought with the view of E. W. (Bill) Ingram III as reported recently in The Christian Science Monitor. Mr. Ingram is the president of the family-owned White Castle hamburger chain, which has been in operation more than fifty years, surviving even the great Depression.

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