River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-05-10
A CORRECT PRINCIPLE.
Patronizing Home Industries Insdres Bet
ter Business Conditions.

A good many of the readers among
the merchants and manufacturers of
the Northwest, may recall the inter
view published early in January with
George w. Parker, describing the oper-
alton of an association in Nebraska, or
gar lzed for the purpose of encouraging
the consumption of Nebraska made
goods and trade with Nebraska dealers,
whether handling Nebraska goods or
goods manufactured elsewhere, the
purpose of this organization being to
encourage the patronage of home in
dustries. The territory covered by
that association is marked by the state
lines of Nebraska
When that article was printed the
attention of large number of business
men was called to it and their opinion
asked as to the wisdom of the organiza-
ton of an association of that kind for
the benefit of not simply Minneapolis
or Minnesota products, but Northwest
ern business in general. che idea net
with approval very generally Since
that time a number of meetings of bus
mess men of Minneapolis and st. Paul
have been held for the purpose of IN
augurating a movement of this kind.
Correspondence has been held with a
number of business men throughout
the Northwest, who hive almost inva-
riably given it their very hearty ap-
the 23d of May in Minneapolis, has
been issued, signed by w. 5. Benton
and G.. ID. IIefiiefnger, of Minneapolis;
j. A. Gregg and Eli Warner, of st.
Paul; j. ID. Green, South Superior.
Wis; II. NJ. Kinney. OF W;Sona, Mimi;
J. A. Willard, of Manlato, Mimi; Geo.
A. Tileston. of st. Cloud. Mimi, and II.
G. Goddard, of DEBORAH, Ia.
Mr.. Parker, who has been very ae-
lively interested in promoting this plan,
has had considerable correspondence
with members of the Omaha associa-
ton, and the testimony of the Nebras-
LA business men, after having given
the scheme fair test in that state, is
interesting and valuable. A few ex-
tracts are here given:
Harpham Bros, Leather, Saddlery, etc. Lin
coin. Neb.-4"The Association has most emphat
icallv been great benefit The work is pro
crossing finely our association is growing strong
through il we are working up q pride in home
manufactures that is bound to re more or less
D -rmaneni. The state board OF purchases and
supplies for 10 state institutions specify on al
application blanks that the goods must be o.
Nebraska manufacture"
Paxton & Vierlng Iron Works Omaha, Neb.-
'There is every reason to believe that the loyal
ty to home made goods, encouraged by the Man
ufacturers and Consumers Association, is build
ing up our city and the people in general realize
the fact that the association has been the help
ing hand of the state during this spring, as tn,
small manufacturers have made a better show
| ing in the year 03 than years prior to it. We
| know OF a great many instances where the hons
| patronage movement has given US the prefer
| ence."
Consolidated Coffee Co, Omaha, Neb.-''W,
are charter members of the Nebraska Man
| ufacturers and Consumers Association and fee
| that il has been great benefit TO the manufact
urers of the state directly and indirectly Tit
| consumers take kindly to the idea and some o
| our ret alters are quite enthusiastic and nont
| antagonize the movement The work is still
| progressing and am positive 1t viii be per
manent.
Gedney Picking Co. Omaha, Neb.-"Th'
work of the Manufacturers and Consumers as
| ISOLATION has been very successful, and grea
| many people have given Nebraska made good
/ a trial who never thought anything could b'
/ made in our state. The business of this asso
citation has kept up through all these duh times
/ The state board OF purchases and supplies pro
| viding for the state institutions, endorse thei
/ proposals for bids to the effect that all good
| must be of Nebraska manufacture where posi-
| BILE" This applies TO goods consumed by asy
/ lums prisons, hospitals and other state instl
/ tions)
| A dozen or more other letters nigh
/ be quoted to the same effect The uni
/ versal testimony in Nebraska is tina
| the scheme is an excellent one and tina
| too much cannot be said in its favor
| The principle acted upon is sound
| Home patronage for home industrie
insures prosperity. Every consume
who consumes goods made in th'
| Northwest furnishes employment L
labor, makes 1T possible for the EN-
ployer to pay good wages, and build
| up a community and a class of people
/ who are able in turn to patronizc him
/ This principle applies not only betweei
/ citizens of the same town, but com
munities OF the same general section.
A great deal has been said in Mime
/ apolis and St. Paul about patronizin.
home industries, meaning the patronage
| by Minneapolis people of Mlnneapoli
/ manufacturers and dealers, and by st
/ Paul people of st. Paul manufacturer
and dealers. But very little has beer
| said about extending this principle
within a wider range and emphasizing
the advantage of securing the patron
| age of Northwestern industries b.
/ Northwestern people in general.
| That is what is now proposed. 1t i
proposed that the merchants of tbs
| towns and cities of Rice county, Mime
/ sofa, for instance, who have butter
eggs, milk and farm general supplies o
all kinds to sell to Minneapolis shall
when they have make their sale il
Minneapolis, purchase their clothing
boots and shoes, dry goods, groceries
/ and other articles of merchandise, II
| provided they can do as well there a
| i'm Chicago. aud that when they sell II
st. Paul they shall do the same thing
! for st. Paul: when they sell in Duluth
or Wiuona. they shall do the same
in those towns. by doing so they make
It possible for the manufacturers o
Minneapolis or st. Paul, or such othel
commercial or manufacturing centre
as NAV be their market, TO hire more
men and pay more wages to people WHIT
will in turn become larger consumer
of the milk, butter and eggs, and othci
produce of such Il community as Rice
county.
The same thing applies to all sections
of the Northwest, North Dakota, fol
instance. is now seeking to demon
strate that her ncwly-discovered fue
product. Ignite. is adapted TO the man
nfacture of steam, and expects to fine
n large market for il in Minneapoli.
and St Paul, and other Northwestern
cities, and in return to spend the money
she receives from the purchase of heI
coal in the same cities that constitute
her market for fuel. 1t is intended thai
this principle shall apply clear down Z
the retail dealer. and that it shall mes l
everywhere that the consumer sha'
purchase his supplies from the neares
source of supply. and especially in tina
quarter in which he disposes of his owl
products.
1t is firmly believed that if tins prac
tice is put in effect that the millions O
dollars that are sent out of this stat'
and out of the Northwest every yea
for clothing, boots and shoes, hats and
caps, and goods of all kinds that are
also made in the Northwest, were spen
with Northwestern manufacturers an'
dealers it would result in such stimu
lus to business in this section that al
classes of industry and trade would b'
highly prosperous. For example, if th'