Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-07-25
lone Trade VS.. Mall Order System.

Randolph, July 10, 1907,
Mr., EditoF;-
My attention has been called TO an arti-
Gle in your paper OF April 2bth signed by
G, l., speare on Catalogue Houses
The writer is evidently warm friend of
the catalogue house, find about five
per cent Of your population take the same
view he does, The other ninety-tiye per
cent prefer TO trade with their home mer-
chant, The experience Of the last twenty
years shows that public sentiment has
suppressed lotteries, trading stamps ana
similar schemes, II took years OF organ
ICED effort TO accomplish these reforms.
We are passing national laws which are
creating a higher standard OF trade.
These laws viii check much OF this eata-
iogue house business, Any catalogue
house that can honestly advertise just
what Il sells viii be allowed 10 stay in
business. The rest viii be suppressed by
national law. As a consequence the vol
ume OF this kind OF business is already
showing decline. A number OF these
catalogue houses have been suppressed.
stiu there are more 10 follow. You can
find the victims Of the catalogue house in
every community.
Ii is fortunate for our newspapers, ho-
I tells and home institutions that our home
merchants are not at all frightened by the
catalogue house. While some OF these
mail order concerns give value for the
money they receive, not one OF them sup
plies merchandise equal in quality 10 such
/ as you buy OF your home merchant. As
/ long as the vast, intelligent majority OF
consumers prefer quality to price, the cat
alogue house will always reach but
small proportion OF our population. The
I New England merchant will not lower his
/ standard OF business to their level.
/ While not denying the right of the cat
alogue house 10 do that kind OF business,
we are passing national laws that will
prevent the unfair competition which
+ the home merchant now has TO meet from
having himself held up as robber be
cause he believes in selling honest goods
for a honest price. The New England
standard OF commercial morality will not
suecumb 10 the Chicago standard. The
New England conscience still rules this
land. Our big millionaires who violate II
are getting short hair cuts, striped suits
and stone cells.
The merchants of town are the town
The retail merchants OF Vermont have
the reputation of being among the most
upright of those OF any state in this
union. They have been born here undei
the inspiring environment OF Vermont
Institutions. That they do not fail in
business is true. Neither does the Yer
mont farmer But the Vermont mer'
chant does not ride in as many motor
boats or automobiles as does the mail or
der merchant. Lots OF Vermont farm
+ ers could have both, but they show theii
good sense by saving their money in
stead. The Vermont farmer and the Yer
mont merchant should get together.
The worst curse of this mail order bust
ness is that it drives these natural friends
apart. They offer just enough OF a bait
to get the farmer to nibble. That they
are more successful in landing the farmel
than any other class is true. But farm
ers are getting wise, and the mail ordel
houses are beginning to lose this trade
This is fortunate for the farmer. Tit
successful merchant makes prosperous
town. and the nearer the farmer can ge
! to such town the better off he is.
Elisha Winter.