Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-05-17
TWO SIDES TO QUESTION
Correspondent Upholds Mail Order
Houses
Editor Enterprise:

| l~~SfSs~s ~p''~SS fsAss SIeSs
| Houses
Editor Enterprise:
Dear Sir:-I thought | would make
a reply to an article in your paper
| Ct last week, that purports to have
and which / think only gives one side
oi the question of home trading,
namely the merchants side.
| ! will begin by asking few ques-
tons:
First.-Why do the home mcr-
chants kick about people sending off
for goods when they themselves in
many instances only take his money
and send? Really what is the dii-
ference whether l send the money
off or they send it? ! fail to see any
difference about the money not cir
culating in the neighborhood.
Second.-Why do they send off for
farm produce when they can buy the
they send off for, and SO help him
a little. 1t is poor rule that does
not work both ways. ! suppose that
they send off for farm produce be-
cause the farmer wants a good price
for his wares. And the farmer sends
cff because he believes the local mer-
chant wants the biggest price for what
he sells. ] say practice what you
preach. ! suppose that said mer-
chants don't know that the farmer
knows that they send off for the
goods that they use themselves, in
stead Of trading amongst home mer-
chants.
Third.-would people send off for
goods more than once or twice, ii
they didn't get them cheaper. or as
they ordered? IL. as is said in the
article. that the home merchant can
quality as those shipped from caia-
loguc houses. why don't he do il
then?
wen, into n local hardware store
and asked the price OF fiat file. The
merchant said il was IS cents.
sen, to Kansas City and got three
OF the same files for u cents. freight
included. Why do they not sell as
cheap as tho catalogue housess
Four,h.-is |, not true that the
isrmef pays all of the merchants
taxes. lights. hired help. rent, lodge
dues and grub bill. also for said uier-
chants vacations for his women
folks. while the farmers wife. son
and daughter has to stay At home and
work TO get enough money TO pay
the grocery bill. The farmers wife
Ia, TO be eontented with calico
alis, /, Is \ well known fact that
every time that farmers wife. son
or daughter comes into town there
IL = general turning UP OF noses. and
remarks OF "thcrc goes \ hay-seed.
We, 4; I, were no; for "Mr. Hay
seed" the merchants and local papers
would be bygoncs.
FiI,h.-Does not tho man that has
TO ask for credit pay for u! A ease
came to my knowledge some years
ago where a farmer was forced 20 ask
Tor credit. Did he sc, u! Yes. after
he had given a mortgage on his only
COW aud horse. And long after u
was too late TO Fepian,. along came
hail storm and cleaned said farm
CT up. Did he &C; an extension OF h,.
credit. Most assurcdly not. Said
merchant wen; and took his only
horse. say a farmer ;ha; has 90
a,k for credit Is np stump. =.
SiSth.-if ;hc mcfehan; - so will
ling TO accommodate farmer by
sending OF for goods. why Is !; the
merchant always tries 60 get of
something onto the farmer that Is
said TO be "just as goodf
Scvcn,h.-Dncs the home merchant
like TO be dictated 10 in regard TO
prices or as TO where he Is TO buy
hs soodss No, a bi, Of Il. lie
would show lively resistance II tho
farmer was say: 'iicfc. YOU pay
me so much ior your produce and !
will pay JUS; so much and no more
for your goods. and III have you at
rested if you ship any more produce
In here and sell !; In competition
with me" Would the .mcrehan, sub
init TO such an arrangement No sir.
Bu; the so.eaiicd hay seed has TO
submit. aud as long as he will sub.
mi, TO be piuctcd like a goose I; Is
all right. but tho minute he objects
and begins to show that he will no,
submit to such an imposition. there
is all sorts of row going. Now.
doesn't II look a little onc-siicd'
Verify. I say. what is sauec foF the
goose is sauce for tho Eandcr.
Now. ] may not have as much in
fiucnee az some OF those that make
such a noise. but generally pay my
debts. and think ,ha, have a righ;
TO spend my hard earned money az
please and wi;hou; asking any ncr-
chant as to where OF how | am TO
spcni IL.
People talk abou, tho cSaesinas o'
the trusts but there exists in Rocky
Ford ono of the wors, trusts that
ever carnc into existence. n an in.
dependent man comes into town and
tries to sell goods at live and Lei;
live prices. is he allowed TO continue
In the even tenor Of his way' Not
by a jug full. He Is promptly sum.
moncd by tho merchants ring. and
Is either compelled to gui; the busi-
ness or sell at the prices set by the
said ring. Now is such actions right
or not' Would such actions be toll
| crated fnr a rrinfficnt hr The rnNcrn.