Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-08
Because 1t Is Good He Some
times Takes an Unfair Adj
vantage Of the Merchant
SETTLEMENTS ARE DEFERRED
One Merchant Says He Has Customer
Who Has Not Made Complete Set
Element in Ten Years-store Keepers
Largely to Blame for Such condi-
tions-Thayers Observations.

Marshalltown, Aug. S.-knowing
that my business was collecting SUBJ
scriptions from the farmers, 1 was APP
preached a few days ago by one of our
business men while in his store to find
out how we got our money. He said
for ten years and that he had some
customers with whom he had no COM
plete settlement in that time, and as
the farmers were going to have lots
Of money this fall he wanted to get
onto some system whereby he could
get what was due him. suggested
he send them bill to call and settle.
"Oh, no! We would lose all our trade.
farmer doesn't like to be billed" he
said.
We'll, take team and drive out
and ask them then" I suggested.
well you know they are helping
around so much that If came up when
four or five were working together
and asked a man for money, he would
probably lick me, and not pay either"
Just at this time in came country
woman and walked down to the desk
and said II have some butter and eggs
and few apples in the buggy at the
feed shed. Will you send after them"
why certainly" said the dealer, all
smiles.
When brought in the butter was
soft and mushy and the eggs and APP
pies of the ordinary kind. Then follow
ed an argument about prices. The mer-
chant finally paid a good round price
for the butter, eggs and apples. The
woman then bought flour and other
commodities So in excess of the value
of the produce furnished, which went
on the books. Exit the farmers wife.
Then the dealers fact assumed q sour
look and as he dropped in his chair he
remarked: That's the way it goes.
That butter, if sell it to my custom
ers. will come back with vigorous
kick. If let the renovators have it. it
lis a cent loss, That flour she took
home had to pay spot cash for, and l
won't get my money until they feel
like paying me-"
This comes from the merchant and
you would think this happened to him
with every customer I called one OF
the clerks while the proprietor was
waiting on customer, and found out
that this was an exceptional case: that
most farmers were better to wait on
than city folks. The great trouble with
the average merchant is that he lacks
the acquaintance with his rural pat
ronage that he has with his town
trade Let him go out in the country
and see how they live, the kind of
buildings they have and how much
stock Let him visit a little with his
customers as they are, and not as they
seem when they come to town. He
will then learn how to handle them.
The great difficulty with the aver
age merchant is fear of losing a GUS
toner. He gives them more for poor
butter than he gets for good. He lacks
the moral courage, to say to woman
IT can't use your butter. 1t is too poor
for my trade, or / have plenty of APP
pies today"
The merchants in many towns have
to prevent the poor payer from trading
on credit all around town, but they will
allow farmer, because he is good, to
run a bill up to 5000 or $500 and go
ten years without a settlement, but if
you live in town the first Of the month
you are expected to pay. This does not
apply to any particular town or coun-
try, the system is the same every
where.
In some places the dealers are trying
to get together and form compact to
make farmers settle up twice a year
The reason they don't go at it single
handed is because the farmer has
them cowed. The farmer is good
fellow and will pay If approached in
the right way. The trouble is the mer-
chant has taught him that his credit
is good and told him repeatedly to
come in and get what he wants and
pay when he gets ready, until he has
acquired a habit. Now the merchant
is only reaping as he has sown, and
should not kick about 1t.
OF course after extending such cred
it a farmer will get mad if made to
settle when he doesn't feel like it. II
every merchant in opening new ac-
count with farmers would have an
understanding that accounts must be
settled October 1 and April / each
year, he would find them ready and
willing to pay and in few years he