The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-03-09

every small town.
Some years ago, when.<his great
western country was in It's infancy
there were no large cities in the
west to speak Of; there were no
large stores that could supply the
needs OF the people; The few mei-
chants OF those pioneer days
could not afford to keep in stock
large consignmcnts and supplies
TO compare or compete with the
stores of the east and could no,
sell their goods so cheap. the con.
sequence Of these conditions was
that people began ordering their
goods from the cast and occasion.
ally would buy Of their home deal
or an article which was needed in
a hurry. This habi, was formed
in the early days and like n para
site clings to the present genera.
ton and will continue its dctri.
mental operation until the people
some day take away their eonhd.
ence from the large stores of the
east and place il with their home
dealer.
As we said before that the home
dealer could not compete with
the large city dealer Of the cast
at that time il must be assumed
that these conditions were not to
last forever. The western states
from year to year gained more
population, more towns were be-
ing erected and with the aid of
the efficient railroad facilities, the
western states were a cons,an.
boom, and can at the present time
compare with those Of the east in
every rcspcctr
We have the railroads, We have
the various educational insti,r-
tons, and We have the stores and
merchants that equal those of the
east; but We have not the gigantic
manufacturing plants they have.
Still this should rot lead astrav
anyone to think that the homo
dealer is handicapped or is no,
able to as good inducements.
They are both s, pplie, by II e
manufacturer, and we dare saw
that thcir prices balance.
Then Why not is the home deal.
CO patronized as he should be?
Some one will answer that he
charges more for his goods. We
will then, on the merits of this
accusation, cndeavor to balance
the virtues of both and let the
public decide which one is more
worthy OF the patronage of the
people.
In the first place the catalogue
houses and large stores of the
east advertise every piece of
goods they posses through the
millions Of catalogues which are
distributed throughout the coun.
try. In these books the town
resident and the farmer finds
illustrated every article imagined:
he finds therein everything from a
carpet tack to thrcshing mach
inc; and in some families this
catalogue is REGARDED as the bible.
Everything is ridiculouslv cheap
and is cheap stuff. We agree
with some OF the catalogue house
enthusiasts hat they can get
some things cheaper than al home
but We say, not all things, and we
appeal 10 those who have cxpc.
rienccd this fact. Luckily these
things that we can be bought nj
home just as cheap arc such ,ha,
are needed most every dav. Go
then, this is one point OF the cata.
loguc house ahead Of the home
dealer. The next point. which is
more powerful than the first. is
that that the catalogue house ad.
vertisc their goods; they posses
all the business tactics 20 essential
to successful merchandising and
have been thus FIR successful n
that respect, this being tev-o,c
of success. But what else do they
do for the people; DO the people
any returns for their patronage
aside Of getting this or that arti.
Gle a few pennies cheapcr?
On the other hand look at the
home dealer. He lives among tie
people; he helps TO build M the
town and il there is anv improve. |
ment to be done he is the first ono |
that is expected to open his purse |
and help cover the expense con.
tracted Herewith. Schools,
churches. halls and other institu-
tons OF community. for the
community, he must pay his full
share for their maintenance: he
pays taxes, and still some reople |
knowingly close their eyes b fore !
these f'cts and do rot consider /
that in o der for him'to withstand |
these obligations as one OF the |