The record-union., 1898-02-06
THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL
LEAGU lie.

The recently formed Sacramento
Business and Industrial League is based
upon right principle 1t moves in
right direction. The thing to do is to
keep it right and prevent it from fall
ing into mere boycotting scheme, or
3ealousies and vulgar rivalries. The
scheme as outl med at the initial meet
ing is right, sound in principle and
praiseworthy all around, but to carry it
out business men must bury hatchets
and put aside the jealousies of rivalry
at least for this one purpose.
Simply stated it is a proposition TO
maintain an organization of citizens,
the object of which shall be to promote
the home patronage spirit, to encourage
buying from home dealers of all sup
plies that can be as well procured here
as elsewhere. We would go a step be-
You'd that, were it necessary, namely,
We would urge the purchase of supplies
at home at even g, slight advance in
cost However, there is no sentiment
in trade. People Will buy where they
can be cheapest and best served.
Fortunately for Sacramento it can
and does sell as cheaply and as high
class goods'as any rival market. House
hold goods, personal supplies, food and
food products, beverages, drugs and
medicines, household fittings art sup
plies, pain rs, oils, papers, machinery
agricultural implements, tools and a
long list Of other supplies can be had
in Sacra' nento to as good advantage as
elsewhe re. There is, then, no reason
why in. almost-all things we should not
patro nize each other in preference to
the stranger.
When foreign solicitor comes to the
door and secures an order for suit Of
clothes to be made, say in Philadelphia,
he by just that. much Injuries the home
maker of clothing, who is expected to
contribute to the support of the very
citizen who thus unwisely sends his
custom abroad.
That single instance illu strates the
whole subject matter. IF our merchants,
artisans and manufacturers are 10 live
here, contribute to employment Of
Tabor. skilled and unskilled, and to
maintenance OF other trades. business
and labor, and to support Of the local
government that gives us municipal
sconveniences and protection, they have
a right to demand and expect of the
apeople of this locality all of their pat
.ronage that can be possibly respond
ed TO in this city.
That is the long and short of the
whole matter. But how can these ideas
be so carried TO the conviction OF the
people as to become practically effect
I've? If all We're minded as is the
Record Union and the citizens who
attended the meeting of Thursday
night, there would not be tine slightest
difficulty. Carelessness, thoughtless-
ness and selfishness will, however, OPP
crate largely against the scheme OF the
league. How can these be counter
acted?
We beg leave.to suggest to the league,
which has our hearty sympathy, that
the ends in view will not be accom-
plished by an organization of traders,
manufacturers alone, even though, as
at present. a considerable body of wage
earners full of good resolve joins with
them. 1t will be conceded that it is
impracticable to secure the personal
pledges of $4,000 people to patrorsize
home dealers and suppliers first. Even
If they could be secured. there would
be but slender guarantee of Continued
good faith and resistance Of teunpta-
ton.
Two plans suggest themselves to the
Record Union" both feasible. First,
an educational campaign, carried on
and maintained, addressed not to the
philanthropy, but to the selfish inter
ests OF the peor lie. In trade pliIlan :
thropy and plead ing count for nothing.
The people in every household must be
shown that ii is to their direct PERSONAL
gain and advant age to trade at nome.