The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-20

building of ones own town and enter
prises- The president of the associa-
ton is J. W. Robinson of Topeka, and
the secretary H. A. Rose of Leaven-
worth. The message reads:
A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE.
To Our Members:
At Christmas time more than at any
other season of the year IS the fact ex-
emplihed that cur greatest happiness
comes to US through our endeavors to
make others happy. All are hurrying,
scurrying along seeking suitable pres
ents for our friends and loved ones.
Hearts are glad, faces wear the smile
that don't come off. and a spirit of
good fellowship predominates. This
brings forcibly to our consideration the
fact that we could all achieve greater
happiness and prosperity by practicing
more throughout the year tn ose CO.
operative and charitable virtues which
seem almost solely identified with the
brief Christmas season At this time
of the year tn merchants make greater
use of printers ink to call attention to
their wares. and while not gain saying
that it profits them well. is it not rea-
sonabie to assume that if advertising
! increases trade at a time when the
spirit to buy is abroad in the land, it
would be quite as potent all during the
year when their work, their troubles
and daily cares serve to distract the
attention of the people causing them
oft times to forget their actual necessi-
4 ties. We who live in Kansas should
give some little thought to the general
prosperity and upbuilding of our state
/ institutions
Let US all, as nearly as we can.
patronize our home industries, let US
/ zealOuslN exert ourselves in the prac-
/ tice of the square deal policy" with
our neiEhbo our home towns and
communities. Picture If you will the
happy condition incident to the resi-
dents of a community all patronizing
!.
4 they arc getting and can exchange it
4 if At doesn't suit instead of buying
\ pigs III DOkes' from eastern catalogue
4 houses which take local currency out
I of circulation and which never donate
to your local Improvement necessities.
Picture your home merchants all SEN
sibly advertising in home papers, thus
/ cmCnstrating the fallacy of cheaper
1 prices elsewhere" and in so doing en-
aiding the local paper to boost without
further charge every movement cal
/ culated to better local conditions; dc
/ this and your vision will have en-
br.iced a condition. for the nonexist-
ence of which. there is no excuse in
fair ole Kansas. If the people would
bring themselves to realize the fact
that il is nobler to be honest than to
wear diamond or drink the other
fellow under the table. forgetting to
pay the biu,) If they would associate
together in peace and harmony with
that spirit of emulOus contention as
If the members of this association
would fully recognize the fact that
good live newspaper is the greatest
factor in the uDbuilding of local CON
5itions and bestow sufficient patron
age to make it financially possible for
the editor to contribute the efforts
which you constantly expect. If every
man would be willing to cooperate
fairly with those u7on whom he de-
perds for his personal success, If we
would brush the scales from our eyes
aud avaken to the fact that ''somc-
thing csEnot be gotten for nothing
and that catalogue quotations. gift
schemes and premium deals are de-
lusions and snares. we would all have
more money at the close Of the year
to devote to Christmas cheer and Kan
sas would be blessed with general
prosperity. Let US therefore adopt
and cherish during 1907 this Christ
mas resolution
Resolved. That to be true Kan
ms the members or the Kansas Re
tail Merchants association must ac-
lively and devotedly practice the
Golden Rule more especially with re- !
gard to Kansans and demonstrate !
due regard for. but offer no misplaced !