The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-07-07
What's the PLATTER Nth erie?

Under the above caption the Fri
Sentinel of last week proceeds to Civ
the little burg on Puckett'S Run quit,
"a lively roast We had labored unde
the delusion that, although Erie wa
not very large city, she had rather
wide-awake enterprising set of bust
ness men and citizens generally.
Erie competition has always beer
considered by our business men the
strongest we had to contend with
We have likewise always felt a little
proud of Erie's churches and the in.
terest her citizens seemed to feel in
church and religious matters and
feel that she is to be commended for
it instead of held up to ridlcule
We are inclined to the belief that
the fair editor of the Sentinel has
overdrawn this matter somewhat and
that her sentiments expressed GO not
reflect the views Of the best people in
this country. At least we know many
people outside of Erie think different.
ly. Below we give an extract from
the article;
"Whaus the matter with Erie?"
What makes it dub" town?
Not more than 30 per cent of the
business that rightfully belongs
to us by virtue of location comes
here. People who live in sight of
the courthouse flagstaff 60 to
Parsons, Chanute, st. Paul and
Walnut to dc their trading, Why?
Because the business men are
either too sleepy or too much TAX
en- up with other affairs to slip
out and put salt on the tail OF
trade. 'How's business?" Walk
up and down Main street and put
that query to the men you meet.
Nine out of ten will say bad, or
poor" or mo good. Then
they'll add IF we only had mines
or manufactures; they'd make
things hum" But they wouldn't.
For the man of small means, and
from purely commercial stand.
point, the best place on earth is a
country town in the middle west.
But he must have push and ener-
gy. The sluggard-the man who
Tags behind--dosen't get on any
where. Talk about going after
the dollar of the man who works
in the mine or workshop, when
one can have the trade of the far
mer for fair treatment and the
asking. Man alive! The barter
and pelt of the farmer is the back
bone and muscle and blood of
trade. Its always "JOhnny-on-
the-spot." You know where to
find it. 1t dosen't leave for parts
unknown between Saturday night
and Monday morning 1t seldom
or never shows up 10 the saloon
till at the poOrhouse gate or in the
police court. It's d dollar for
dollar proposition all The year
round
"What'S the matter with Erie?"
Too much amateur preaching, too
much church social, too much pet
ty wrestling with the things God
Almighty looks after himself.
The religion of the Lord Jesus
Christ is a mighty necessary and
desirable thing. 1t ought 10 60
hand in hand IN business. But
common sense should be the head
that directs the hands. Erie peO-
pie are so busy raising money to
send feather beds to the Senegam-
bians and linen pants TO the Es-
quimaux up around Dawson City
that they neglect to pick up the
loaves and fishes laying around in
their own dooryards. The ice
cream social to provide funds to
put "Welcome Little Children"
in guilt letters over the pulpit,
takes so much of their time that
there is none LETT in which To In
wife people TO come in and buy
goods. 1t is OF more Importance
that tue members Of the "gocd
boy" committee OF tile 2. Y. T.,
be selected with infinite care than
that the same pains be taken
tn make Erie good business
town.