Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-04-05
MUTUAL PATRONAGE.

What every town needs to add to its
thrift, lisa mutual co operative patron
age-in other words, a fixed purpose
on the part Of all the different yoca-
tions to patronize each other. The
habit of shopping in distant cities, of
sending North for implements that can
be made as well by our own mechanics
is a penny wise and pound foolish
one. 1t does not mend the matter to
say that things are cheaper abroad
than at home, and hence the neces-
sity for patronizing the mechanics and
merchants at other points Why are
articles cheaper abroad than at home
Simply because home industries are so
little encouraged, that to prepare them
selves with all the modern labor saw
ing appliances for turning out work
cheaply, they must have capital that is
not at their command and an assurance
of patronage enough to keep those APP
pliances steadily moving. To expect
our mechanics, with their limited
means and more scanty encouragement,
to do work as cheaply as the mechan-
les of the North, with the aid of steam
and every facility that capital can com
mand, is an absurdity. And why are
northen mechanics able to provide
such work shops? Because they can
combine capital and labor and because
they have the full patronage of their
own people as well as those of the
South.
The mutual patronage ofeach other
by all the vecations and industries of
town and its vicinity, establishes a
home market and keeps in circulation
at home, thousands of dollars that
are sent abroad never to return
and to swell the prosperity ola distant
people whilst our skill and energy in
the mechanic arts are sacrificed to
mistaken belief that nothing homemade
is worth having, and that dime saved
to-day on something imported isofm
consequence than the future wealth
and commercial independence to be
won by wiser and more liberal policy.
Yet sensible men protesting an earnest
desire to build uptheir town, overlook
this little item in the great system of
political economy and, Micauber-like,
wait for railroad to turn up and work
miraculous changes in favor of those
towns whose citizens have slept for
years. in blissful ignorance that any,
thing can be done for the growth and
prosperity of town in the absence of
a certain Railroad soon to be built, yet
powerless unles itcan import the energy
and public spirit and capital without
which fifty roads will fail to build up
town. But, whilst waiting for road,
why not inaugurate policy of mutual
patronage between all vocations and
thus prepare the whole community to
take advantage of the facilities the
road may off.r2 Give mechanics full
work at fair prices and they can afford
10 patronise merchants and the pro-
tessions, and by this interchange of
benefits capital will accumulate and
the town become prosperous. Send
abroad for nothing that can be made
at home and shops will multiply and
enlarge and town and country soon
show signs of advancing prosperity.
Apart from the material prosperity
to be won by the policy indicated, its
social and moral bearings should not
be overlooked. Such an interchange
of patronage will remove much of the
jealousy and discomfort that mark the
temper of community in which in
terests clash and struggling industry
is discouraged and thwarted by the
preference which capital gives to dis
tant and more favored competition.
1t viii endanger that feeling of kind
ness which ever accompanies CON-
munity Of interests and mutual de-
pendence, and will make us one people
mutually sustaining each other and all
striving for common prosperity, and
taking pride in the growth of the town.