Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1902-07-24
Shall we Kill off the Country Stores:

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Shall we Kill off the Country Stores?
In a recent issue OF the Northwest
ern Agriculturist appears an editor
al article headed ''Tyranny OF Viii
lages' which by falsehood and mis-
representation attempts to prejudice
the farmers against the home mer-
chants IN the small towns, in order
to build up the mail order houses
and department stores in the big
cities. The statement is made that
groceries cost from so to 800 per
cent more in the country stores than
in the cities, besides other COMPARE
sons as to prices, with intent to
show that the country stores are
robbing the farmers. Advocacy
OF the idea to patronize home lnsti-
tutiOns is characterized as "perfi-
dious doctrine" Even the credit
that the country merchant is often
called upon to extend to the farmers
in time Of need is mallciously re-
garded as an opportunity seized
upon by the country merchant for
the purpose of still further robbing
the farmers. The whole article is
inspired by the mail order concerns
OF the cities, who would like nothing
better than to drive the country
merchants out of business. If the
advice OF the griculturist were gen
orally followed it would kill off all
the small towns and villages and in
place build up the big concerns in
the large cities. Whoever thinks
that would be. a good thing for the
farmers, and the country in general,
is fit subject for the insane asylum.
The farmers would be completely at
the mercy OF these concerns or trusts
in a very short time. They would
look in vain to them for credit to
tide them over until threshing time,
or in years OF crop failure The
fabulous profits made in the retail
store business exists wholly in the
imagination, In no other line of
business to-day is there more active
competition. Every town Of any
size has number of stores, and the
towns are generally not very far
apart, which fact makes it impos-
slble for the business men of one town
to unite on eXtOrtionaIe prices.
Farmers would then do their trad
ing in the next town. The country
store keeper cannot charge more
than a fair legitimate profit. AS
rule the department. stores do not
sell good, clean, pare groceries at a
less price than the country mer-
chants. There is not a merchant in
Warren, or Marshall county, but
will gladly duplicate any order sent
to the mail order houses, as to
prices and quality. OF goods, the
matter of freight being taken into
consideration. Farmers in this and
adjoining counties have been swind-
led more than once by city concerns
from whom they have bought musty
groceries, that have been condemned
as unfit to eat by the state dairy
and food commission. What inter-
est do the city concerns take in the
farmers welfare, and the building up
OF his community. None whatever.
They pay no county or school taxes
here, and have no other interest in
the farmer except to get his money.
It is a good business rule for the
farmer and every body else to buy
where he can get goods the cheapest,
and sell where he can get the most
for his products. He should be
posted on price currents, and if he is,
the home merchant cannot cheat
him even if he would. But can the
farmer sell his butter and eggs, his
poultry and pork, and other farm
produce to the department. stores in
the big cities? Not much. 1t would
be a sad day for the farmer should
the department stores in the cities
succeed in killing off the country
stores, but every order sent to these
concerns helps to do that very thing.