Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-02-07
HOW TO MEET THE DIFFICULTY.

A correspondent writing from Chcl.
ton, Idaho, states that the position Of
the people there, especially those en-.
gagged In agriculture, IL far from salts.
factory. The state law taxing canals
has added to their burdens. Many
farmers have mortgaged their property
for living expenses, and now have no
prospect Of paying the indebtedne
Incurred, as farm produce commands
very low prices In the market; and
when the farmers get anything on
credit, two per cent per month Is the
customary rate OF interest charged
them, after thirty dnys.
The correspondent also states that
the s,orekcepcrs In the locality have
formed league, and win pay tile
smallest possible price for the farmers
product. This payment 10 made only In
merchandise, ~ that "storepay" has
superseded cash almost entirely, and
the quantity Of that In growing per.
ceptibly less throu Ia the failure OF the
agriculturist to get fair value for his
produce.
Such u state OF ahairs rs that des-
cribed Ia very discourigins, AMI It Ia
TO be hoped that things do not wear
quito as gloomy m aspect NJ the cor
respondent thinks. This facts and
figures which he gives, h viewer, show
that the situation OF many OF
the people is far from being as prosper
Gus M might DO desired. This does not
arise from failure OF the soil to give
forth In its strength; there is no COM
plant Of light crops. The trouble lies
in achain Of circumstances which the
people themselves, by careful, unselfish
and combined action, could la great
measure control to their own advan-
tage, rather than be crowded. thereby
inioa condition that Is CALLING.
"Rlnning credit" Ia cistom far too
prevalent among other classes than
those engaged In filling the soil. A.
a practice It cannot b, too severely
condemned. There are cases Of ner.
gency when Obtaining Gre 1T Is justi.
fled, but az habit 1t ia foolish and
costly, whether In oountry or city. A
judicIous and thrifty manager studi-
ously avoids H.. Our correspondent
says that twelve per cent per annum
interest on bills after thirty days In In.
slated ON by the local merchants. How
can they do otherwise and keep In
businessg They cannot afford to pend
their capital IN carrying long list OF
debtors without return for the means
so applied, any more than the farmer
can turn over his team for constant
use by his nolghbor without re-
Enumeration therefor. Besides, the
loss Of storeksepers by disputed ac-
counts and "bad debts" under the credit
system Is far from considerable. PEG.
pie who do not wish to pay heavy inter.
est on overdue bills can be relieved OF
that burden by not habltually permit.
ting their bills to become overdue.
Then II, through misfortune or stress
OF business, they are forced to ask for
longtime credit, their record for
promptness In meeting their obligs-
tions will stand them In good stead In
securing the desired accommodation.
The workman who makes practice OF
spending his wages before they are re.
ceived, and the farmer whose custom
It is TO mortgage his whole crop before
1t is harvested, are poor fiuanclers.
Equally Objectionable with the
"habilual credip policy Is the "store.
pay" system. Incidental to their
business, merchants properly Issue due
bills under specified and understood ar
rangements. These are often neces-i.
~. An exchange OF commodities IL also
Legitimate. But the storekeeper whose
method Is 10 compel people to trade
with him by tue storepay process
IL without the pale Of either.
The merchants who have entered
INTO tho league referred to doubtless
found It to their interest to engage In
concerted action. II the farmers arc
lnposed on by the cDmbuitlon, they
have an example Of how to obtain 70.
lief. Their own harmonious and united
action would settle tbs question. BY
organizing and combining for mutual
benefit, they eau command the market
to a reasonable extent; AMI II la one
| place the prices for their produce are