Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-04-26
Commercial squatters.
Chetopa Advance, Mar. 2s, 1890.

Chetopa Advance, Mar. Is, 1880.
In the early days of Kansas there
was q class Of settlers who came to
this state that were known by the
very expressive name--squatters. They
were a lazy and sometimes lousy set
who came out, or were rather pushed
out by the tide of immigration as 1t
swept westward, and who would
squat" on a quarter section of land
and there remain, not to "grow up
with the country" but simply till the
country grew up around them and
they could get good price for the land
which they had taken as 'claim,'
when they would cell out and move
further west. They were of no earth
" benefit to the community in which
they lived. They did nothing toward
the development OF the country, made
10 improvements themselves and
would contribute nothing toward the
general or public welfare of the COM
munity. They were simply squat
tiers" sitting there with their claims
"fOr sail" as soon as anyone came
along who could "raise the wind"
This squatter in early territorial times
had his exact counterpart In the COM
inercial world. Among the so-called
business men of almost every commu-
nifty we find men who are "not to the
manor Cor the merchandise) born"
but who have taken up the trade aud
have simply "squatted" among live
experienced business men, and who do
nothing toward calling attention to
their place of business unless it Is to
nail up over their front door all old
weather-beaten sign having OIL 1t
"Groceries," "Dry Goods" "Hard-
ware" or whatever 1t may be, which
they have picked up in some back al
ley. They simply "squat" there and
get what little trade comes along.
Around them are live business men
who advertise their business far and
wide and who by judicious advertis-
ing draw customers from all over the
surrounding country and thereby in
crease the business of the town and
the prosperity of the community.
But those who simply "squat" do
nothing for the general prosperity of
the community. They simply get all
the shekels they can OH the smallest
possible outlay, and the trade they do
get Is simply the overflow that comes
through the advertising of their more
intelligent and enterprising competit-
ors. The merchant in this day Of the
world who does not advertise is sim
ply commercial squatter who does
not "know beans" about business.
Were it not for the enterprise and
business energy Of their neighbor
merchants they would not make their
salt. The truth of this can be Illus
trated right here in this community.
We can name six or eight business
houses in this city that are liberal adj
vertisers, and If these said houses
should leave the town or cease to adj
vcrtise the business of Chetopa would
drop as fat as a pancake, and soon be
as dead as q door nail. But because
of their persistent and liberal use of
printers ink q large trade is drawn to
II
the town by the overflow from which
the commercial squatter is enabled to
live and perhaps make some money,
without which he would bust up, leave
the town and "squat" somewhere else.
In these reflections we have simply
been dealing with facts. The mer-
chant who depends upon getting trade
through the energy and advertising
enterprise of his fellow merchants is
not an honest merchant. He is reap
ing where he has not sown. He is
gathering where he has not strewed.
He is not only a "squatter," but he is
a "shirk," failing to do his part in his
relations to the community and to his
fellow merchants. "From all such
turn away" and 60 to the store that
helps the town by drawing patronage
far and near through most iudiciOus