er-selling. For instance, in Chicago, the Army has
nine retail stores situated in the poorer districts, doing a big
business in second hand goods. In addition to those goods it sends into
the retail trade, it sells hundreds of tons of paper and rags annually.
This must have some effect on others engaged in this business. However,
the Army itself sometimes pays for its material and does not often
undersell.[33] But there is another side to this question of
underselling. Naturally the tendency is to get as much as possible for
its goods, and provided there is a market, the army would seek to obtain
just as much as any one else in the business. It now falls back on a
question of supply and demand. The only way in which the price would be
lowered by the Salvation Army would be by an increase of supply.
Doubtless the supply of these goods is increased by the thorough work of
the Army agents, and, to such an extent, its entrance into this field
would tend to lower prices. However, in the leading salvage industries
of the army, the increase in supply does no more than offset the
increase in demand. The amount of displacement of the salvage and allied
industries due to the competition of the army at present would not seem
to be much, although of course it is difficult to get any exact figures
along this line.

Looking at the Salvation Army retail store as a form of relief, another
question arises as to whether the opportunity given to the residents of
the district to get things at the Salvation Army's store cheaper than
elsewhere interferes with the standard of living. By the standard of
living we mean the scale or measure of comfort and satisfaction which a
person or a community of persons regards as indispensable to
happiness.[34] This would differ in the case of different persons and
classes and communities, but progress demands that the standard should
never be lowered, but should always be raised, in accord with increasing
enlightenment and education.

"It is only," says Dr. Devine, "when individuals or individual
families for personal or exceptional or temporary reasons fall below
the standard, that charitable assistance can effectively intervene.
In other words, as has been pointed out in other connections, the
relieving policy cannot be made to raise the general standard of
living, but it should be so established as not to depress it"[35].

Here, then, the point is, whether those who are otherw