Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-06-16
EQUAL JUSTICE TO ALL.
The Business Men Of Salem Organ
ize for Their Own Protection
Againt Dishonest
Debtors,

That union Is strength" is q
demonstrated fact, as shown by the
union of capital and confederation
of trades. Statistics show us that
more than 80 per cent. ofthe country
works on the credit system. Sta
tistics also show us that 80 per cent.
of the business ventures result In
failure, and it is probably equally
true that 80 per cent. of such failures
result from bad debts.
The actual cost of production and
transportation may be learned, and
the possible sales can be ascertained,
but the question which confronts
the merchant is, twill the custom
pay?n
No wise merchant can afford to
take the chance of the mans pay.
ing him when, to his knowledge, he
has not paid other merchants. The
credit business throws certain risks
onto his shoulders anyway, such as
are out of work-or the sickness or
death of his credit customers. In
work, in health and IN life, these
would pay. But, with no employ
ment, if they had been fair Gus
toners, the merchant must carry
them-likewise in sickness; while if
death overtakes a debtor, he leaves
no assets, and they must charge the
account up to profit and loss. This
is risk enough to Gerry without at
tempting to carry those who have
the reputation Of not paying. Many
men. naturally honest, grow into
confirmed "dead-beats" though an
business. The mer-
chant trusts on and on so as TO evade
the risk of offending what may be
good customer or of driving trade
to his rivals until the load grows 50
heavy that he can no longer carry it
That the merchant may continue
to do business the cash customer
must take up the loss, therefore
heightening the price of living and
imposing burdens upon those who
are honest and pay their debts.
1t is for this reason that the mer-
chants of Marion county have or
ganized and become members of the
Merchants Retail Com ercial
agency of Chicago. This agency
extends almost entirely over the
United States and Can ada, and if
the "dead-beat" owes a bill on the
shores of the Atlantic, that bill, If
Just and honest one, must be set
tied before our merchants can or will
give him n dollars credit. and he
who owes us can find no new fields
by leaving us, for over 10000 mer-
chants east of the Rocky mountains
have agreed with every member
west of them that the man who owes
q bill here must pay before he can
obtain credit in their states. l
The same law governs every men,
ber of the organization, and that is
the law of justice-that be who has
Teen accommodated and helped
when he needed help and does not
such help enough to pay
an honest bill for which he has had
value received, is unworthy of any
credit or indulgence by other busi-
ness men.
Since the Salem branch has been
there have been the most
gratifying results to its members.
Accounts contracted years ago aud
given up for lost, which could have
been bought for one cent on the dol
lar, have been promptly paid in full;
not through the execution of any
one man, but simply by all business
men adopting the same rule all over
the United States-that the debtor
must pay his honest bills or pay
spot cash for what he buys in the
future.
The methods of this agency are
built Oh q rock and foundation Of
right and justice, not only to the
merchant, but TO The debtor as well.
The object of the association is for
the protection of all and the oppres-
sion of none.
That Objectionable feature of what
is termed as black-listing poor but
honest man il eliminated from the
methods employed by this agency,
for if man disputes bill or shows
4 Willingness to do right in regard
to his account, he has the right, and
is requested to appear before our ex-
ecutive board, aud this body is
bound to act with fairness and inn
partiality.
The officers Of this board are:
President, James Aiken; vice-presi'
dent, Jos. Myers; secretary, Lot ,.
Pearce; treasurer, Geo. II. Good; ex-
ecutiye board, G.. B. Gray, w, l..
Wade, Il. G. Cross, / l.. Patterson
and VIM. Brown.
Moved aud seconded that the
above be published in the daily pa
pers OF this city. Motion carried
unanimously.
+. WILLIS, Secretary pro tenn.
Let no man whose name appears
on our abstract OF unsettled accounts
as refusing to pay an honest
debt, whether it be IN Oregon
or in any other state IN The
United States or Canada, ask for
credit from:
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