Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-03-01

LAS oeeH iilaue on the part OF the
surrounding interests located in
large cities to centralize and mono.
police the selling of goods at retail.
People have been so energetic in
their plans to save few pennies, or
at least in their thought to save a
few pennies, that they have patro
nized these combinations until they
have been building up to the mon
strous magnitude Of millions. The
building of these retail trusts has
been done by the people, and by
, them, too, without the least thought
of building up combination that
would finally mean their hurt. It
has only been in the last few months
that people have really become
aroused to this condition and they
have begun to see the trend of the
undertaking. They have begun to
recognize the danger in the cen
tralizing of the retail business.
With this development of retail
trusts carried a little further the
result will be that our home mer-
chants would discontinue business
and then the market for farm pro-
duce would be wholly in the hands
Of trusts. Then the condition Of
the consumer and the farmer would
indeed be deplorable for he would
then, in every particular, be under
the control of a soulless combination
Of capital.
While this building has already
gone far, it is not yet too late to re-
trace our steps and turn all of our
trade toward our local merchants.
1t has always been the cry of the
trusts that they furnish better goods
at less prices than was being done
by local industries. But that state
ment is not credited by the person
who has given thought to the sub
ject: Who can say that the self
binder, sold today by the trusts, is
made Of better material than the
self-binder turned out a few years
ago, when they were manufactured
by individual concerns? Who can
say that the clothing we buy today
is of any better quality than they
were few years ago, when made by
individual factories? Who can say
that any thing we buy, which is
now controlled by trust, is better
than it was years ago, when it was
produced by individual effort?
If none of these trusts have kep,
faith and redeemed their promises
to give US better goods at less
prices, then how, in the name Of
truth and honesty, can we expect 9
trust of retail interests to give us
better goods at less prices than we
can buy from our home merchants!
The principles of business are as
solid and firm as the rocks of Gil
bralter, and in compliance will
none Of these principles can a mai
order or catalogue house sell goods
at less price than can our home
merchants. They don't do it anc
cannot do it.
Of course the retail trusts have
spent thousands of dollars in ad
vertising matter for the purpose o
discrediting our home merchants
|; They always make prominent il
their advertising matter that oul
home merchants are charging to-
much for goods.
But we venture the assertion tina
8 in every instance if the consume
8 will present a list of what he want,
to his home merchants, quality con
t sidered. and allowing for freight O
express, they will furnish the good
i as cheap as will catalogue house
All any reasonable person can ash
is that the reader give this subjec
) careful consideration from ever,
standpoint, and if people will follow
: this there is no danger of any trus
. monopolizing any branch Of bust
. ness. w. Up,