The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-09-07
(From Farm, Stock and Home. Sept. ~
AN INSULT TO FARMERS: :.

A farmers son-dutiful, Industrious stu
dious-aspires to become a merchant. At
the age OF q he enters a general store in
the nearby village as a clerk. He IS a
close student of men, goods, prices and
profits. Agreeable to all and scrupulously
honest in his dealings, he soon becomes the
owner of small general store. Equipped
with thorough knowledge of the needs OF
his customers. who were principally farm
ers, he studied the markets carefully,
bought the best Of everything. and instead
of buying from wholesale houses. who al
ways demanded good profits. he purchased
direct from manufacturers and importers.
By thus eliminating one large profit. which
he always gave to his customers. his trade
rapidly extended to adjoining counties, and
in time the farmers Of other states We're
profiting by his business tact and shrewd-
ness. Lacking in distributing facilities, a
removal to city, from which radiated many
railways. became imperative. A building Of
many rooms took the place Of the one coun-
try room; one clerk had increased to many
hundred clerks; advertising was Increased
and catalogues OF many pages issued; goods
formerly purchased In one-half and dozen
lots were now bought by the car load and
train load, which materially reduced their
cost. True to his early determination to
eliminate as many profits from the farm
ers' necessities as possible and get them
into their hands at the minimum profit to
himself, they are now participating in a
large share Of the benefits arising from
these enormous purchases. Winged, as it
~ rta.n
prise, skill and superior business ability,
the drones of retail stores and shops
throughout the country fiuttered together
and in one acclaim asked by what right
does this man go beyond his little kingdom
and come upon our preserves and seek to
keep shekels in the pockets of our farmers
that by custom and the old laws OF trade
should come to Ours?' "A man endowed
with so much consideration for the well
fare of those who follow the plow should
be crushed" shrieks a faint voice. Down
with him! down with him. cries another
and another. Cooler councils finally pre-
vail, and the boycott (the law to the con.
trary Notwithstanding is invoked as a
potent means to his subjugation: ''There-
fore be it resolved, that, in convention as
sembled we, the retail merchants of the
Northwest, do solemnly pledge ourselves
not to buy goods from any firm, individual
or manufacturer who. either directly or in
directly, sells goods to, or ships goods IN a
car with this man, or any other supply OF
catalogue house; or who advertise in any
paper that will advertise catalogue and
supply houses, SO long they persist in
selling merchandise to our vassals the
farmers) at prices so obstructive TO Our
profits" ~|F1
The above recites a bit of true history
and a condition actually existing in Che
Northwest at this time. F. S. & H. is
both amazed and panied to have the rumor
corroborated that SO formidable stand
has been taken by the retail merchants of
the Northwest against the liberties and
freedom of their neighbors to buy wher-
ever their interests could be best served.
The ones to be hurt most, if this action
should prove effective, are the farmers,
but knowing so we'll the stuff they are
made of we will be -gseatlE--surprised if
they do not resent the insult by standing
by their friends and thus make this ATTACK
upon their manhood ahortiXe.