The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-02-01
THE SOCIAL AND MORAL OBLlGA.
TIoNs OF THE MAIL OR.
DER PROBLEM.

| stantly harping on baptism. A brother
that longed for rest handed him a
text he thought safe, "The way Of the
transgressor is hard"
Friends" says the preacher, there
are three things suggested by this
scripture: First, the transgressor.
Second, his conversion. Third, his
baptism. We will pass over the first
| two and come at once to the third"
Many reasons why people should
trade at home rather than send their
money. away have been given, but sup
pose we pass them all by and come ut
once to the one vital reason
1t is the right thing to do.
For after all the fundamental ques-
ton in every transaction is whether
| it is right or wrong. Not will l save
money, but is it just? Not is it more
convenient, but is it fair? Not whether
is it good business, but whether it Is
good morals?
For you and know, and all the
world is coming to know, that not one
dollar is ever saved or made by unfair
means that does not curse the possess
sor. And a man may be as dishonest
| in saving money as in getting it.
It is right to spend our money with
the home town and wrong to send it
away because we are under obligations
to the home town, but not to the mai!
| order house. 3
Financial Obligations.
In the first place, the country is un-
der financial obligations to the town.
| OF course, the town is also indebted to
the country, but the town cannot help
but pay its debt, its very existence
| does that. Hence, we are merely dis
cussing the country side OF the obliga-
ton.
! Find 200 acres of good land almost
anywhere that is twenty miles from
| town, and you can buy it for $25 an
acre. The same land within ten miles
will bring $35, within five miles it's
value is $50, within two miles $S5 an
| acre.
Thus that town has increased the
land within a radius Of ten miles an
average of $35 an acre. AS that is
about the age of country towns gener-
ally, you may figure that town, as
long as 1t is fairly prosperous, in
creases the land around it an average
of 81 an acre every year.
Not considering staple articles, like
cattle, hogs and grain, which can be
shipped and sold anyway, the town, as
a local market, is worth at least SIS
a year to the ordinary farmer.
For example: This year the peach
markets were SO glutted no ordinary
fruit would pay the express. Around
the little town in which the writer
| lives most farmers have few peach
| trees The 1000 inhabitants bought
nearly every bushel in the vicinity al
| from 40 cents to 81 a bushel More
than $4,000 was paid for peaches with
| in three weeks.
That was clear gain. which must be
set over to the credit Of the town
Plums, cherries, early vegetables
scores Of little odds and ends, perish
able stuff that the farmer could not
or would not ship, he turns into cash
at the home town.
So II a man owns 200 acres within
reach Of town, he will receive $275
year direct cash value from that
town, none Of which he would receive
from the mail order house.
To be sure, the town does not do
!! nate him that amount, the town was
not built for the purpose Of philan-
thropy, yet he receives an actual cash
benefit because the town Is there; and
he is under actual financial obliga-
tions to return that benefit by spend
Ing his money at home.
It Is not an obligation that tho law
would recognize. but 1t is one that
appeals to those Independent, clean
hearted men Of high honor. who feel
that perfect honesty demands that
when benefits are received from
stranger or brother, friend or foe. ben
efits should be returned.
It is sometimes argued that the
town has forfeited it's right to the
farmers patronage by selling too high.
But a careful investigation will not
bear out that contention. Your town
is unusually prosperous II you can
count more than four merchants who
have cleared $4,000 in the past ten
years. That is $1,000 year for time
and interest on capital. You can
count FIVE or six others who have
failed during that time, lost every
thing. The January invoice will not
show net gain Of $500 per business
man. That means the ordinary mer-
chant and his capital are not clear
ing $50 a month. This does not indi-
cate an unreasonable profit on goods
sold.
Social Obligations.
It is right for the country to spend
It's money with the home town be-
cause Of the social obligations between
them.
The town is the center OF your COM
munity. From It radiates your rural
s@~~~~~~~~~~~~.~~.~~~>~~~~~~~
"Have my goods arrived from T. M.
Robuck's?" said man who called at