davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28
MENACE TO ALL
Giant Mail Order Concerns
Are Sapping Country Of
It's Wealth.
SMALLER TOWNS CRUSHED
By Assisting in the Capitalization
Of Wealth, Patrons Of These In
stitutions Contribute to Their
Own Injury.

Copyright 1906, by Alfred C. CLARKE
Every year millions upon millions Of
dollars find their way from the towns,
villages aud rural districts Of the coun-
try to the Golfers OF the mail order
houses in the cities, and 60 to the up
building Of enormous institutions in
the centers OF population. Naturally,
the sources from which the eontrihu-
tions are made suffer accordingly.
Figures ever tell a better story than
words, Here are figures which tell
story so stupendous that its full sig
nlficance cannot be grasped In a mo
ment. but the mere sight OF which are
awe inspiring:
In the year 1905 two mail order
houses. located in Chicago, did a busi-
ness amounting in round numbers to
ssO.O0O0O0. In the year 1904 these
same concerns did 9 business Of about
s62 100000, a gain Of s1S,O00,0OO OF
nearly 80 per cent. In . single year be-
ing thus exhibited.
These figures represent the sale last
year Of one dollars worth Of merchan
disc for every man, woman and child
in the country by two catalogue houses
alone, and those operating from the
same central point. Dozens more oi
varying size and Importance are oper
ating ali over the country from coasi
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28
YANKEE IN DIAMOND FIELDS
Commissions to Study a Country
Which Produces Such Men.

Commissions to Study countF-r
Which Produces Such Men.
Mr. Alfred Mosely IS an Englishman
who admires American ways so much
that he sends commissions here 10
study rs.
Mr. Mosely does not admire Us
without a reason It is not a very
specific reason. Its name is Mr.. Gard
ner F Williams, and ii is BY way Of
being an American mining engineer.
Mr. Williams directs the diamond out
put Of the world.
Mr. Mosely made his fortune IN
South Africa. He watched Cecil
Rhodes dream OF empire develop ana
knew the men who made it real. The
one who took his imagination vas
Gardner Williams.
Here was a man who had left
Michigan at the age of us to 20 with
e pioneering father 70 California il
the flush days Of the early mining
camps had had taste OF California
mining, had gone when sun young
man to explore IN South Africa and
had become general manager of tie
great monopoly Of the diamond
mines.
4 fighter Of financial battles and a
manager Of men, writer a scientist
and one Of the worlds greatest en-.
glneers, he SO stamped his personali-
~ on the people among whom he
lived that he was feted and cheered
BY an South Africa when he retired
lass spring and came back to the
United States to build a home lof his
leisure years in tbs sssd Of his birth.
Worlds Work
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

to coast and from border to border.
A fact not generally known is that
hundreds OF concerns throughout the
country which now are doing business
through theregular trade channels are
awaiting only a parcels post law to
unloose literature. already prepared
In many instances, which would pro
iect them into the mail order field. and
this does not take into account the
hundreds and perhaps thousands III
entirely new mail order eancerns
which inevitably would spfng into ex-
lstence under such frienS,,. auspices.
The two Chicago institutions re
ferred to. already occupying immense
buildings. found themselves cramped
for room. One Of them expended not
less than 81 900 900. and probably more
for a new home. The other lately has
secured new location and also will
expend at least 100000 for an i'm
mense new building.
Anyone who will reHect even casual
" on the subject must become i'm
pressed that the influence Of the mail
order business is toward the central
ization OF wealth, and how enormous
a part 1t is playing in this direction
will be understood from a second
glance at the figures which have been
given above
It is due to himself that every patron
of the mail order house should inquire
honestly OF himself what the final out
come is to be II the mail order bust
ness shall continue to make the great
strides which have marked It's prog
ress during the last half decade.
It is useless to repeat the well worn
argument OF the mail order concerns
that they are selling goods enough
more cheapIy than the merchants in
the regular channels Of trade 10 leave
their customers more money than
ever to devote to home enterprises
and institutions. The fallpey OF this
statement has been proved over and
over again by actual and minute com
PARSONS OF goods, as TO their quality
and prli;es. re relute Il finally and
ndisputahly BY a simpler and more
direct method It is necessary only to
ask the reliable business men Of any
ol the smaller communities to show
the evidence from their books and ac-
counts Of the harm the mali order
aablii is doing their communities
It is a truth as old as the hills and
is certain as the rising and setting oi
lhe sun that no country Or section Of
= country can prosper unless the peu-
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

They do not help to build school
houses for your children; the local
merchant does. They do moi assist in
the support Of your churches; the
local merchant does.
But there are some things the cata-
Iogue houses do for you and the
first and greatest Of these is TO assist
materially in bankrupting your com
manity The dollars they take away
never come back 10 you. They will
never help to make a city of your vii.
lage They will never increase the
value of your realestate holdings by
making local Improvements.
Let us look at the subject from the
standpoint Of the farmer, for 1t is the
farmer who is the greatest patron of
the catalogue houses.
The town Or village one, two or
three miles from his home is his mar
ket for the butter and eggs and other
produce of his farm. The half dozen
or more merchants of the town, each
anxious to obtain his full share Of the
business OF the community, maintain
competition that affords to the
farmer at all times top prices for the
products Of his farm It is these half
dozen merchants that make farm
pronts possible: the profits are in no
way due to the catalogue houses OF
the cities.
But the farmer persists in sending
his dollars tosthc city He wants
buggy, OF a set of harness, or a pair
Of stockings or any of the necessities
or luaulies OF life, and TO get them he
takes out his mail order catalogue and
looks at the finely printed cuts, reads
the well written description. and pass
ing the local merchant BY the mer
chant who has purchased hts produce
at the best market prices. the mer-
chant who has helped to build the
community, he sends his dollars to
the catalogue house n the city aud
takes what they choose to send him.
What is the result?
One after another the doors Of the
local stores are closed. and where at
one time there we're half a dozen mef.
chants, each bidding for his share Of
patronage by Offering fair prices for
that which the farmer had to sell,
there ID now but one merchant who
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

ln disnosins oi that De S absoia-elF
dependent upon Bis local merchant
and hy his patronage q the catalogue
houses ne has killed competition. ald
must now take Whatever is offered for
What he has to SELL
8ir. Farmer. are sou Aelping to kili
the goose that Is laying your golden
egg9
Are you sending your dollars 70 the
catalogue holses and By so doing kill
ing the local industries Of your town!
Are You putting your merchants or.
Of business. and creating a MONOPOLY
that win pay you what it pleases for
the products Of your farm9
If you are doing these things it IS
time for YOU to stop and consider the
future. You will have TO look but a
little way ahead to see the result, and
it will not be an attractive picture that
greets YOU The prosperous com
munity of which you are now a part
will fade like the summer flowers be-
fore the winter winds, and almost as
quickly
It is the fact that there is a market
within close proximity to your farm
that makes your acres valuable. The
men who maintain this local market
for you are the men who cause the
railroad trains to stop at your Town.
Take them away and soon the town
win be wiped of the map The
churches will close for lack Of support
The schools VIII cease to be pride,
and your sons and daughters VIII lack
the opportunity that is theirs BY right
Of birth, and your acres, that are now
valuable because they lie in close
proximity to a market. will show I
depreciation that win astonish you.
Your interests are identical witt
those Of the merchants Of your town
BY sending your dollars to the cit
you may cause the merchants to clos
their establishments, but when the.
are forced to this they can pack thei
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

% me end. 7 have laiih Ia th' com
ny. an' 10 the people that live here
an u0hody's sick baby IS d goin' 70
suffer ii J Kin help any
Wen, il was the same thing &C
Harlows grocery. an tn coal yard
everywhere in th' town. 'Certnlee.
Mr. Williams. ven see " through on
this It made me feel mean an small
some way, though 1 don't know why.
An often when they'd put 10 few
oranges or somethin' like that, sayin'
in . 'pologizin sort Of way. little
somethin fer th' sick baby, Williams.
why somehow it made hard lump
come up ia my threat, an had a
queer feelin in my eyes, kinder achy
ike, y know.
We'll, to be short about it fer eight
weeks you KEEP a gittin' weaker an
weaker, an we KEEP feelin' more n
more hopeless. It was a sad Christ
mas in our home that year. Your ma
was jest wore ont with watchin en-
tryin' to do her work between times
an / was SO nigh sick with trouble az
discouTagement t / ust to go around
BY the barn an jest cry like baby
But ] never let on to your ma though,
ner she Z me. We tried Z encourage
each other though we knowed in our
hearts Z all our cheerful words was
lies, an each one knowed the other
knowed It too.
Well, jest tn night before New
Years Doc. called as outside your
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

room. Oh. how my heart SINK thenl
Ia don't want to hold out any false
hopes to YOU people he says. but I
think with proper care from now on.
your little girl Is goin & sit well
Elsie. 1t seemed test like q ton of
hay had been lifted of my chest right
there As fer your ma. why she Jest
busted down All cried as lard As she
could After Doc was gone we went
Out to the Kitchen an kneeied DOWN
right there an thanked God fer the
most glorious New Years gift he eeef
give 4 anybody in til woFld-the
health Of our baby girl You know
your IA amt no ranter er shouter:
yer ma bein a Baptist Vas furnished
most Of tn rllgiou fer our house. buy
jest then seen how 1t was that thty
comes times In peoples lives when
they've jest got to have someghin'
bigger an greater than anything hu-
man & turn TO with great Joy er q
great sorrer
We'll. II was a long time yet before
sou was strong enough L play ont
doors. an It was a hard winter |
burned every post Of the fence around
the. south eighty fer firewood afore
Il was over But It seemed like we
had 20 much l. be thankful Ter that
we was strong care fer any any OF
tn smaller troubles that we come
acfost.
SIT really hasnt 50 bad to look back
al # now after III trouble Is over. but
them hard wears 10 Kansas drove
nearly all our neishbors t. give up
their land an move away, broke IN
hopes an pocketbook Them Of Us as
stayed is purity well fixed now, but
We nj FER everything We get an I'll
hasd, too An. o. yes. ahoa Ia caty-
/ logs Well after you was well an
things begun I take turn fer III
better. one night ma brought ont that
Chicago book an laid 1t on the kitch-
en- table an says: 'Ezry, what do you
want C. do with thlsg An ] sez: Les
burn IT,. An your ma sez: Jest what
was thinkin', too An so we did
burn 1t. an what's more, We gin'l
never had one In th' house since an
we never send away fer anything We
can git at any Of the stores In Huston
cause We want to deal with them as
has an lnt'rest in the country We live
IN. an in Hs people that live elost by
why. you needn't Of put yours in
tn stove. too. Elsie, | didn't mean
yes, don't know but what its JEST a.
we'll y done It after al"
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

PIE as a vhois shan he prosperous
Such general prosperity es may exist
cannot BE- retained 81 ibe Institutions
Of the already larger and wealthler
communities are TO continue 70 De
built up By contributions that should
be spent at home from the thousands
of smaller communities.
The need Of the country, desper-
ate need upon which the welfare Of
the individual depends, is for the
usSuilding and continued progress Of
the smaller communities, so that the
wealth Of the country may be distrib-
uted over the entire country. and not
congested and controlled In large
amounts in a comparative few centers
Of population.
Therefore. the man who sends away
from his own community money which
he might have spent at home and per
mitted a fair profit to the home mer-
chant to be retained there for the
benefit of the community, is injuring
his community, and thereby the pros
poets for his own future prosperity.
In large number Of instances he is
doing more than this. Unwittingly, or
tinthinkingly, perhaps he is violating
his own principles Of right and justice,
for, at the expense Of his own COM
munity, he is needlessly contributing
profits to the capitalistic combinations
which he continuously cries out are
menacing the country.
The mail order giants direct their
energies particularly toward the peo
pie of the smaller towns and the agri
cultural districts. In hundreds 81
thousands Of the homes Of these the
catalogue of the mail order house is al
regularly received as the home paper
The man on the farm last year s,.it a
very large portion Of eighty millions
Of dollars to two Of these institutions
in one community, alone.
In all sincerity we ask: Admitting
purely for the sake Of the argument
that the farmer or the resident Of thu
\ small community can save few dol
lars on some Of his purchases. or ever
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

Some time ago a merchant in Mar.
blehead. Mass. was discovered in his
store at very late hour. and In reply.
ing to inquiries. be said:
My confidential clery Is missing. 1"
And what of it?H
why, I'm looking over the books.
but they seem to be all right
Have YOU counted your cash p
Yes: and it Is correct to a dollar. +"
Looked over your bank book W
4 have. and It IS satisfactory.
That's the puzzle. yen see. He's
skipped. and I can't make out what
for"
Been home since noong"
No"
Perhaps he's eloped with your
wife"
He hurried home. and found thlz to
be the case.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

that he could do so on all of them, can
he afford to continue to impoverish
his own community, upon which his
own prosperity, the very value Of his
Iane iepends?
If he will ask himself this question
and consider It soberly and fairly in
all Of its phases. including the many
which cannot be touched upon within
the limits Of a single article, we think
his answer must be that be cannot.
The wonderful productivity OF this
country has been sufficient to over
come the various adverse economic IN
fiuences which have existed during the
period OF years in which the mail or.
der business has accomplished its
greatest growth. Everyone has been
getting along pretty we'll" While the
increasing flow Of golden Millions from
their source in the land Of the coun-
try to the already great centers OF
money and population has held back
the growth Of the smaller communi-
ties, it has not yet occasioned great
disaster The test will come with the
first pinch Of hard times 4 condi.
tion which no country ever has been
able to escape at recurring intervals.
When this time arrives those com
nnunities will best stand the test vaich
have best conserved and husbanded
their resources.
JOHN s. POTTS.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

stock Of goods and 90 elsewhere, bnk
you cannot pack up your farm and
move It; your acres must lie in the
bed you have builded for them whether
1t be fair or foul. and it is up to you,
Mr.. Farmer TO spend your money 81
home, and in. this way you can solve
the greatest problem that now cen
fronts this country
win you do 1t?
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

= 4tN 1&UeuHtEh W@tt~NEN0F tueNt
Addressil-g a meeting Of retail mer-
chants in Jefferson city recently. Gov.
ernor Folk, Of Missouri, said
We are proud Of our splendid
cities. and we want 10 increase wealth
and population, and we also want our
sonntry towns to crow We wish the
city merchants TO build up. but We
also dcsiae The country merchants 20
prosper. ] do not believe in the mail.
order citizen. II a place is good
enough for a man to live in and to
make his money in. its good enough
for him to spend his money in
NO merchant can succeed without
advertising in one way or another
patronIxe your town papers, build
them up. ana they viii build the town
up In increased trade and greater op-
poftunlties. Do not be afraid that
business is geine to be hurt by the re.
cent exposures Of wrong.doing IN the
commercial world
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

Louis n. Parker. the arsmatist, was
born in France: his father was an
American. his mother an English
wonaa: his first language vas Italian
md he vas educated IN Germany.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

Wife why Do you always SIT al
the piano. DRvld7 You know you
cant play 4 notsl DAVID Neither
can anyone else. Wills am hefei
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1907-01-28

FOR We hadn't been tradin much
with the stores in Huston, buyln'
mostly from the catylog folks y know.
IN so we didn't have any credit there
10 speak Of. But ] went t Foster, III
IIuggiat, an ! told him how things
vas. ] didn't have no money { pay
fer tn medicine an things, an the
proapecss fer the rext year was as
poor sr poorer than th' last.
WY eert'nlee. Mr.. Williams he
tays. iesi lei us know whal sou want
'a ven carry ytu along ell times
some hstte .er son. Wire 81 III a
llfhl pinch nov bu, Il We hang fse r
e. tfsr4ta L. "a - a, =. .anss.e s.4l ..lss..e
r = 'eF r f4l aNtt - NuAiH oht ftEht
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-21
London Papers Expressions.

London, January 21.-The morning news papers all regard the incident culmlnat- ing in the withdrawal of the American warships from Kingston most unfor- tunate and regrettable, but several of tme refrain from speaking editorially, pending further information, evidently being desirous to carefully avoid anything calculated in the slig ht/t to jeopardize the friendly feeling between the United States and Great Britain.
 They all, however, reiterate expressions of gratitude for the invaluable services of the American surgeons and landing parties.
 According to the Daily Mails Kingston correspondent, the people of the town are widely protesting against the with drawal of the Americans, as there Is still great need of food, and still greater need of medical assistance. This correspondent relates that it was at the request of the governors deputy and subordinate that American marines were sent to quell the incipient mutiny at the penitentiary. and that the governor repudated his sub ordnate's action.
 The Daily Chronicle in an editorial says: ''The painful ending of the mission of mercy will be deeply deplored by the British people In the absence of n- formation 1t is impossible to ascertain the responsibility for the misunderstanding.
 
 who are quick to take offense at anything in the nature of a slight, will take a cool view of the facts. Their generosity and promptitude in dispatching aid created a favorable impression here and we sincere ly trust they will not think we do not value their sympathy or their co-opera- ton.
 The Daily Express says:
 "The disaster will become double dis astrous If 1t should lead to III feeling between Great Britain and America Should Governor Swettenham's action be as inexcusable as appears from the cor respondence published. the government would do well to supercede him and offer diplomatic regrets to Washington with out delay"
 The Tribune. the Morning Post and other papers while withholding Judgment. all testify in the heartiest manner to American generosity, and disinterested- ness with regard to Jamaica and ex- presses the sincere hope that the inci- dent is either exaggerated or will be sat isfactorily explained.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-21
ENGLISH GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA
 INSULTS THE AMERICAN SAILORS
VIRGINIA SUES
 WEST VIRGINIA
ELKlNs AND ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL RESIST ACTION ON READ JUsTED DEBT WHICH MAY GO TO SUPREME COURT.

Washington, January 2O.-(S' ecial)-The attorney general of west<rvirginia and Senator EllSins of that .ss-ate have been iii consultation for tsS past few days with former secretgcy of the Treasur- Carlisle in regard .-5 the readjusted S~ of the state of V ,ginia, the latter brought suit sainst West Virs. |, TOT one-third of ne debt.
 The authorities of West 90 "a have decided to resist the suit 0 e request of the states attorney geo % and Senator Elkins. MT. Carlisle Jeen employed as the leading counsei the case.
 The legal question will be on the equity of the demand, and what is justly due by West Virginia to Virginia. It Is taken for granted that the case will eventually reach the supreme court. t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-21
TO DEPORT MEXICAN
 REY0LUTIONISTS
IMMIGRATION INSPECTORS TRY ARREDONDO IN SAN ANTONIO AND MAKE RECOMMENDATION TO DEPARTMENT.

San Antonio, Tex, January 2O.-The board of immigrant inspectors before board of immigrant inspectors before can revolutionist was tried, to determine whether or not he is qualified to become citizen of the United States, agreed upon it's recommendation today and will suggest to the secretary of commerce and labor that Arredondo be deported. Two of the board favored the deportation Of Arredondo, while the third took a stand at variance with his colleagues.
 The recommendations of the board in the form of a majority and minority re- port were transmitted to the secretary of commerce and labor by wire.
 The immigration inspectors refuse to make known their positions in the mat ter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-21
FIVE LAKE LINERS
 AT MERCY OF GALE
STORM STILL RACES AND NO AID GAN BE GIVEN SHIPS AT BUFF FALo-DAMAGE TO SHIPPING $1,5oo,ooo.

Buffalo, N. r., January 20.-A terrific gale, which blew ninety miles an hour at times, has swept this city for eighteen hours and has done s1,5OO,OOO damage to shipping. Five big liners just inside the breakwater wall were torn loose from their moorings and driven aground.
 The gale still rages and no aid can be given the endangered vessels. They are believed to be resting on soft bottom and unlss the gale becomes worse will prob ably not suffer more damage.
 The vessels aground are the Hurlburt | w. Smith, William Nottingham J. .. Riddle Monroe c. Smith and A. G. Brow CT. Most of them are owned in Cleve- land.
 For hours the gale swept the water front, tearing everything that stood in its path. Docks and wharves were wrecked and carried away craft broken from their moorings smashed against bridges, doing serious damage Smoke stacks and buildings of lighter construc- ton were blown like paper boxes but so far no casualties have been reported.
 The gale began with a blnding snow storm. The fleet that was anchored at the breakwater walls consists of about eighteen large lake liners. When they started coming ashore in the height If the storm today vesselmen were prepared to see the whole fleet beached, but thir- teen of them rode out the gale. Old lake men say this Is the severest continued storm that has swept the lower lake in the last twenty years