The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-10-04
aus1Nsas xEN,s oRaAN1zArIoH


On Wednesday evening the merchants Of
lola met in Bostwick & Smeltzsr's Office and
listened to the explanation Of Mr.. C. H. Hay
ward of the advantages offered by organizing
under the protective system represented by
THE MERCHANTS MERCANTILE AGENCY OF CHIcA-
90, ILL.
The organization Of the lola branch was per-
fected and the following were elected officers:
J. W. Coutant. president; d. Ewart, vicepres-
ident; A. L. Taylor, SecretsryI H. Klaumanu,
Treasurer.
EXECUTIVE BOARD:
H. Klaumann, VIM. Yeager. J. F. Colborn,
W. II. Richards, Elias Bruner. A. Ewart, 8.
NJ. Jennings.
All present signed the constitution and by.
laws, pledging themselves to abide by the
same for one yesr. fine lie provided Is Q
penalty for violation Of the clause in such con-
stitution, which provides that no member Of
the lola Branch of ''The Merchants Mercantile
Agency shall give credit to person who
does not, In some homo rable manner, adjust
his Indebtedness with another subscriber to
''The Merchants Mercantile Agency" Nc
person shall he referred to the members of thii
or any other Branch as owing member Of
''The Merchants Mercantile Agency" until
such person has been given full and fair OPP
portunity to go to the merchant he owes and
in some way adjust his Indebtedness This
system works no hardship on any person who
is disposed to do right toward those who have
extended credit to him. If he be unable to pay
he has only to show his good faith; but tina,
class of persons who do not care for theiI
promises to pay; who 60 from one store to an
other, from one town to another, contracting
9 debt where ever they get chance to open On
account; who go it blind. never stopping to
consider how they can pay; never trying to
pay-payipg their honest debts being the last
thing they ever think Oft is to such persons
that this system pays attention. 1t Is no hard.
ship to ask men to be honest In their deals
with q merchant who trusts them Every
farmer, every mechanic, every person in the
community in which we reside, who pays his
honest debts, is interested In the success of q
system which seeks to make those who can pay
and won't pay, pay their honest debts, be-
cause it is those who pay cash, or pay theil
debts promptly who furnish the money which
enables the merchant to successfully conduc,
his business and carry on his books that class
Of people led slow payers and dead beats. >
Every dollar lost by the merchants by reason
OF bad debts Is Indirectly loaded onto the
shoulders Of those who do pay, and any system
that forces payment by slow payers and dead
BEATS or compels them to pay spot cash OF
secure for any thing they purchase. unloade
the percentage from on the shoulders
Of the honest paying classes. The merchants
have no law for their protection; they must be
law unto themselves by organizing to protec,
each other. They owe 1t not only to themselves
but to their cash paying customers to organize
and drive to settlement or cash that class of
persons which invest every community, who
do nothing, live well and contribute nothing.
This system is being adopted by all leading
| merchants. 1t deals honorably with both debt
or and creditor, and should have the support
not only Of merchants but of honest consum-
ers.
We do not wish to be understood as being or.
ganized for the purpose of Expressing any per-
son, whatever his condition in life, but to the
end that all men shall be compelled to honesty
when their own honor fails to be sufficient
incentive.