The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-03-29

not that in their appearance or conduct
calculated t. inspire confidence in their
statements. They had packages Of goods
with them, which they professed to have
obtained by hardly reputable means,
and to offer for sale at vastly less than
the prices asked by local merchants
for similar fabrics. Other articles, such
as carpets, overcoats, etc, they sold by
samples, pledging themselves to send
the goods by express; but, SO far as we
can ascertain, the pledges are all that
their customers have yet obtained for
their money or notes, and are probably
all they will ever get. Besides the cash
these sharpers obtained, we are credibly
informed that they had in their posses
sionjust before leaving this; city, about
$4,000 in notes against responsible farm
ers in this locality, which they had taken
for goods sold.
Another class Of sharpers, scarcely less
Objectionable than the above, are those
who transiently stop in city or village,
open out stock Of goods-most fire.
quently damaged clothing an
nounce, in flaming posters, that they
will sell the same at prices far below
cost! Perhaps, they combine scheme
of prizes to accompany purchases, which
they use as bats to catch customers.
After doing a rushing business for a
few weeks or months, at most, they
quietly "fold their tents and steal away"
taking care to leave in time to escape
that reaction in popular sentiment
which might be attended with unpleas-
ant, and if not positively unhealthy,
consequences to them, and at the same
time to avoid taxation. Their only OBJ
ject in visiting community is to fleece
it, and when this is accomplished, there
is nothing left for them to do but to
move on and find new victims.
When, because Of our patronizing
these peregrinating and transient mer-
chants, VIC compel OUT local business
men to compete with them, we ought
not to hope that the latter can deal
fairly with US. They cannot afford to
do 81, because we elect to buy Of them
nothing but staple goods upon which
small profits only can be realized. The
fancy goods, which are usually bought
only in small quantities and upon which
heavier profits are expected, are bought
Of peddlers, and, by our liberal patron
age Of transient dealers in cheap stocks,
we put it out of'the power of our regular
dealers to gain anything by OCCASION
ally handling such stocks. In short, we
force them into competition with class
of dealers who, speaking in general
terms, depend for success upon their
ability to swindle the public.
Were it true that we gain anything
by this conduct, there might be some
excuse for it. Occasionally we may
strike u bargain as it is, but in the
aggregate We really pay more and get
inferior goods than if we dealt with reg
ular dealers. For instance, some two
months ago our attention was called to q
pair of doe-skin cashmere pants, bought
of peddler for 5000! They were
"dirt cheap he said, and "could not be
bought in this city for less than $780,"
At that very moment Mr.. A. f. Levi
the clothing dealer on Main street be-
tween Third and Bush, was selling the
same kind of goods for 5000, and a very
much better article for $500, and we
will venture to say that no clothing DEAL
er in this city would have asked more
than $3.50, for them. Take the entire
lot Of goods, for which farmer Of this
county is said to have given his note for
$345, and we will guarantee that he can
duplicate the bill at T. B. e. B. F. Shell.
don's, Simmons g. Strandnes Boxrud
Bros. or Guy Graham's for $500, and
get the same terms of payment!
Sustain your local dealers in prefer
ence to travelling men always, and if you
find, then, that they are not dealing
with you honestly, transfer ysur trade
to those who will. By your liberal pa
tronage of transient sharpere, you injure
the resident merchants, encourage swim
dlers, and really pay more for your goods