St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1907-11-22
HOME PATRONAGE.

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we consider one of vital interest to
the city. While there is more
truth than poetry in much that he
says under the caption of "Anent
Home Patronage" there are some
points in which he, like the rest of
us is lame.
1t is commendable to be econom-
ical. That is one of the cardinal
virtues of successful commercial
and social life. Bat to draw the
line at and define what is economy
is where there is room for great
diversity of opinion.
Admitting that there is the diff
erence in prices as he states in his
article is it economy to go from St.
Johns to Portland, spend a half
day, ten cents in car fare and do
the hardest half days work of the
week TO save 65 cents, which would
be all that would be saved OH the
articles enumerated by our ''old
subscriber Is not the half day
worth more than that to your If
you went over town would you
always buy as large an amount of
supplies as thisl Suppose you
bought twice as much would it be
economy Hardly, even though
this saving was the only factor to
be considered, which IL is not.
DO you know that when you go
to Portland for your provisions you
are contributing to the support OF
that city by robbing your ownl
DO you know that the merchants
of that city do not pay one cent to
the support of st. Johns' Why
then not patronize the merchants
here who help pay the taxes that
provides protection to your own
property, who invest the profits Of
their business in getting better
goods, greater variety, larger sup.
ply, aud in erecting new residences
aud store buildings, thus increasing
the value of your own property,
building greater, better, more
beautiful aud prosperous cityi
These are factors that must be tax
en into consideration and they far
outweigh the mere pittance saved
by the little transaction. We will
admit that there may be some ex-
cusc Tor the transient dwcller here,
IL he has an idle day, TO 30 TO
Portland and make a purchase, for
he might possibly be ahead fifty
cents or a dollar, but IL is beyond
the pale OF logical argument that
Il is profitable for the home owner
here To do so, because he will lose
more good money in the transaction
than he gains.
While we say this much in favor
OF our merchants, because we know
we are right in our position, aud
we would rather be right than TO
he even a member of the school
board, we must say that Our mer-
chants are in great measure to
blame for the conditions indicated
by our "Old Subscriber. They
Ilo not let our people know what
they have for sale. We believe
they can sell as cheaply and put
ls good goods on their shelves rs
FAN any merchant in Portland.
They can also have remnant sales
and bargain days which would
keep out the Cheap John fakirs
which occasionally come In aud
'ell shopworn, defective goods to
,ur people for more than they are
worth and in many instances for
more money than a good article of
he same kind could be purchased
or OF our own dealers.
Why not do thisl Why not
meet Portland OH her own ground
Why not make bargain daysl Why
lot tell the people what you have
D sell9 II will cost something To ,,
dvertise. Il is true, because a
ecent paper cannot be printed for
othing, and paper that has
othing of interest IN II but the ads,
not worth the paper It is printed
II for an advertising medium.
mt the best spent money mer-
hant puts out is that which he
lys Tor good, live ads, Ads that \
II what you have, Not simply a
ne OF two that says "Bill Jones
lis socks" OF that Sam Slick is
shoemaker" but an AL that will o
Il your wares. Ii our merchants 81
ould use 1.-THE OF the money Il
voted to advertising by Portland cl
buses ior the same purpose here, Il
ere would not be any trading in te
1rtland by our people, but there 81
ways will until they do, tor peo- II
e will 30 where they know they L
II get the goods, That is our IN
ew OF the question, and il is now ks
en for debate. We would be VI
ld To hear the merchants side eN
the question, for there are able &C
tiers among them, aud ii there Tic
any argument against trading in an
ur own town OF supporting your II
IN merchants and home paper we he
'uld be very glad to know them. &C
. Ter
Mrs. W, Il, Niles OF Milwaukee, W.
C., visited Mrs. G., Ward yester- oe
lai