The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-04-18
sAUKcENTRRis HERALD.
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cHAs. f. HE3 DilYX, Propsr
k7e9A14s XS{5ks<<s 49,
Subscription 50 aYear.
Is 90 If PaiS ADVANCE.
APRIL i'd !, sol.
THE. LOCAL NEWSPAPER.
APRIL iasl, !; soi.

sst 1870 e.
THE. LOCAL NEWSPAPER. b.
Undergraduates 'functions.sof a
local newspapers TO Sfostertand ad'
vance the public interests of the
community primarily; and second
arily tofurther private and indiv-
idual interests in SO far las such
interests benefit the community.
To hold the business of the i'm.
mediate locality, to be enjoyed1by
those engaged in SUCH Legitimate
enterprises as will suit the require
ments of the people, and to attract
and compel business from as broad
an area as possible is, perhaps, as
effective way as any. in accom-
plishing this purpose, - IL .,s
For the benefit and advantage of
producer, merchant and consumer
alike, it is of the utmost importance
that purchases be made at home
that the money be kept in local eir-
culation, that local business enter
prises be built up. That is. to the
mutual advantage of both seller
and buyer. Our merchants have
the goods, sell them at reasonable
profit, extend judicious credit, help
support the varied interests and in
situations both as taxpayers and
contributors; and what is of in
estimable advantage to- the pur-
chaser, stand behind their goods
and wares with guaranty, ready
to make good any defect or de.
ficiency, or to, correct any error
which may occur. Furthermore,
they are the consumers of the pro-
ducts of agriculture, and their en-
terprise is effective in fixing and
increasing values of the farming
lands and the products of them. I
Have you doubt of it? I'm
agine for a moment what the effect
would be upon farmers within ra-
dius of twenty miles of Sank Gen.
tire, if this city seould be obliterat-
ed from the map! What would be
the .aggregatsgloS TO- the farming
interests? simply incalculable. =
Thousands of dollars are sent out
of this city annually for goods and
merchandise which could be pur-
chased just as satisfactorily here.
Admitting that a few cents are.
saved on any one purchase-the
purchaser has no guaranty that he
is receiving what he ordered. He
must rely upon the representations
of printed catalogue the woad of
someone who has no interest in the
purchaser or his surroundings other !
than the immediate profit in the
one transaction: The home 'rner-
chant stands in an altogether diff
ferent relation with the consumer.
He is perslstently at work for him.
He is helping him in a thousand
ways. He appreciates fully. that.
the improvement of the farmer is
the advancement Of the: city. 4
AS remarked above, it is the duty
of the local newspaper to Honestly
and persistently urge such views i
for they are right. = 'S>*..~ |
But is there no obligation exist
ing on the part OF the business man
and the producer toward the news
paper? II Apparently not. The
business men. seem to consider
they have discharged their full
duty when they read and approve
of The policy of the paper-or else
criticise it for not doing even more
in the way of upbuilding local busl-
ness. To be sure the catalogue
houses in the cities, the mail-order
firms, are advertising their goods
and wares every day in the year,
flooding the rural mails witt: invi-
tations to buy; spreading before
the farmers and towns-peopIe as
we'll, attractive and alIuring offers;
telling them what they have for
sale and at what prices-pounding
in season and QUO of season for
their patronage. What is the local
merchant dong to counteract this
influence to divert from him the
business which is legitimately his?
A few of them much, and those
who are doing 1t are making the
effort profitable. Most of them
nothing. Look over the advertis-
ing columns of this paper and guess
how many men are in business in
this city. Where could you buy
suit of clothes if you wanted one?
Turn to your elaborate catalogue
just received from Minneapolis, St.
Paul or Chicago, and it will tell
you where you can buy, and what
if will cost, and very attractive
picture-more or less misleading
as to how it will look when you
have it. Are there but one or two
grocery stores in Sank Centre?