The Monte Vista journal. (Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colo.) 1888-1921, 1906-06-09
TO THE CONSUMER.
FACTS FOR HIS CONFEDERATION
REGARDING HOME TRADE.
Patronage Of Local Merchants An
Important Factor In Build
ing Up commu-
nifty.

Dear Mr.. Consumer: The retail
me. chant In your community very
often has much less at stake there
than you have.
The prosperity or lack Of prosperity
Of the community may mean much
less to him than 1t does to you.
His investment In your community
may be represented entirely by the
stock Of goods he is carrying.
II your particular community does
net AFFORD him prosperity according
to his necessities It Is q comparative
ly simple matter for him to close out
his stock and go elsewhere. taking
with him that part Of the prosperity
CT your community which his capi-
tai added to 1t.
II you are farmer. let us say
since We ara writing of mall order
house patronage. and agriculturists
are very large patrons Of the mail or
der institutions-your holdings In
your community represent many thou.
sands Of dollars. so that its continued
prosperity Is vital-most vital-to
your own property.
X Is true that many retail mer.
chats have property interests In the
communities In which they live In ad.
dition to their mercantile interests.
II IL true ALSO that many mail order
house patrons have small financial In.
tsrests Of any kind.
II may be safely stated. however.
that the interests Of the average
farmer. who Is the great catalogue
house patron. are more closely bound
up In the welfare OF his community
than are the interests Of the average
retail merchant.
II must be plain. then, that you who
have much At stake In your communl-
ties are placing responsibility on the
wrong shoulders when you demand
that In order to retain your patron.
age merchants who have comparative
ly little at stake shall compete in the
assortment Of stocks. and to the ex.
act dollar and cent In prices. with
some millionaire merchant In . dis.
tant city.
II your local merchant be honest.
and II he be making an effort. fairly.
to supply your needs q far - It lies
within his power. It 10 to your inter.
est that you should encourage him by
every means you possesA not only to
remain Ia you community. but to ex.
pand bis business TO further meet the
requirements OF your community-in.
stead OF placing upon him the burden
Of gratifying your every vhim tina.
you may be induced to keep At home
the portion Of your money that be.
longs there In any eveat.
We say TO you. therefore. that II Il
your duty TO yourself to purchase
withiA your own community every
dollars worth Of goods that II IL pos.
slhis for you to buy there At . price
w!thia reason; that Il IL your duty
to yourself 10 give yeur hone ner.
chant an opportunity TO order Goods
for you that he may not have In
stock: that It Il your duty 10 your.
self to help your home merchant en.
large and widen the scope Of ais bust.
ne,s AZ rapidly A. possible.
II yoa cannot buy . certain kind Of
goods In your own community, II IL
your duty to yourself 10 Join with
your neighbors In . search for an on.
terprisinG merchant who will come
Into your community with his capital
and handle that particular line Of
goods.
At one time or another you may
have contributed bonus to bring q
manufacturing establishment to your
community. The retail merchant, In
. smaller way. 10 A. Important q fac.
tor In the prosperity Of your com.
muuity - tM naAvfactuser-sonse
times more stable one: he Is q nee.
c~sary part Of the whole.
And he asks no bonus but your en-.
couragcment and the share Of your
trade which II ieGitimAtely belongs 10
you to give 10 him. ~
Walking . Lost Art.
Time ~hxo