The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-08-09
he Skipped the Town We Home Patronage.


painter, passing by the name Of Henhss,
hailing from New York, Charlotte, N. C. and
Spartanburg. was cordially taken by the
hand, some weeks ago. by some people In
Union, and given all the work he could do,
because he scorked cheap, while honest men,
born and raised here, with families living and
spending their earnings among us, could
hardly get work enough to keep body and
soul alive. 1t may be that Hennes was
moro experienced workman, but he certainly
proved to be more expert rascal, for one
night last week, like the Arabs, he gathered
together all he could Of his own and other
persons plunder, and silently stole away,
leaving many bills for materials rent, board,
etc., unpaid.
How many similar cases can the people Of
Union count, from employing strangers in
preference to their own citizens, because they
work cheap? In nine cases out of ten the
cheap stranger has proved to be the dearest
man to the community.
But there is another feature, and a very
serious one for the town, in this practice of
preferring strangers to our own people: 1t
prevents the establishment of mech anical en-
terprises that could afford to buy machinery
with which to execute work rs well and
cheap as in other places.
Union could sustain good establishments
49, s---A-----~----v-.--
| encouragement Of the town was concentrated
upon them; but so long as the patronage is
divided, and the preference given to stran-
| gers and establishments in lother ocalities, it
is utterly impossible for any one to employ
the best workmen, the best machinery, and
all the appliances necessary for executing
the best work, at the shortest notice and for
the lowest price.
We doubt much if there is another town in
this State where its citizens appear so indif-
ferent about paironizing and encouraging
home-folk and home enterprises, as those
of Union. A man may spend his life and
every dollar he earns here, and do all in his
power to build up the town, but If n stranger
comes along with some fancy samples and q
glib tongue, he can get more orders, more
work, more insurance, and more of any
other business he may represent, than could
be obtained by any individual or enterprise
of our own town.
This must be changed, il we ever expect to
see Uuion get fairly out of the stagnation in
to which she had fallen before the present
Board of Trade took her under their foster
ing care; end the Board of Trade must set
the example.
We may not be able to get everything just
to our notion, at first, BIZ: by the concentra-
tion of business at home, VIC can bring nll
trades to perfection; and through the build
ing up of one industry all interests will be
subserved and the business pulse of the COM
munity made to feel its quickening infuea-
ces. You cannot inflict an injury upon one
rest, directly and indirectly; and the mar
who permits his individual prejudices to Grip
pie any one industry is not the man to pu
in the lead when the general welfare is tn,
object aimed at.
lies in the unity Of action Of their citizens,
upon all matters-the smallest as we'll "a
the largest-in which the public welfare is
involved.
1t is waste of time to try to build up
, town with factions Of its citizens pulling
different ways. In union alone is ther,
strength, and ga hOuse divided again st itseli
must fall" Is sacred injunction that no
community eau ignore with impunity.
This unity Of action and feeling must b,
exercised not only in establishing nep enter
prises, but supporting and encouraging thos
, already in ou: midst, that they may b,
prosperous and increase their facilities q
fast ss the wants of the community demand
We practice what we preach. We have
D lived in Union nearly twenty years, an
never sent twenty dollars out of the town 70
, anything We wanted and could buy here
even when we knew we could save money
, by 50 doing. If this just rule had been cd
hered to by ell who have had work done Il
E our line, we should to-day have two more
workmen in our Office spending their sala
ries with our merchants, and every facility
in our office for doing every kind of print
ing in the best style of workmanship
As it is the work given us will no
warrant the employing of IN extra hand
or the purchase Of more machinery.
We mention our own case. mainly to show
the practical working and injurious result
to the whole community which naturally
and surely follow neglect of home enter
prise, and the advancement Of the mutua
interests Of all homo industries.
A Compliment Well Bestowed.
We find the following high complimeu