The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-01-17
MAIL ORDER MENACE
How the Cash Retail Trade Is Be.
ing Drawn cityward.
Amazing Growth of Big City Con-
Germs That Drain the Country Of


Germs That Drain the Country Of
Money.
In Maxwell's Talisman are the fol-
lowing remarks on the mail order
business by Richard Hamilton Byrd:
1t is recognized fact that the re-
tail business of the country villages
and the large towns for that matter,
is being destroyed. Year by year the
once prosperous merchants ar being
forced to the wall-driven out by the
mail order business. And this is TAX
ing place in face Of the fact that the
population and purchasing power of
the country districts are ever on the
increase.
What is the matter?
The mail order houses are draw
ing the cash retail trade from it's
natural channels to the cities.
The growth of this octopus has
been phenomenal. From jellylike
idea-without form-an experiment
fifteen years ago, it has grown to
proportions that threaten the eXter-
mination of the retail country mer-
chant.
An idea of the way the money of
the people is being drawn into this
mail order trade can be had from
the reports of some of these houses.
A certain mail order house of Chi
cago which began with few thou
sand dollars fifteen years ago now
carries a capital stoc., of s5,OO0,00O
and has arranged to increase that
stock to $40, 100000. It's does bust
ness of S5,OO0,000 mnoth and
earns a net profit of S3,000,000 a
year.
Like the patent medicine business,
tie mail order business depends on
the gullibility of the general public.
Thousands of people every week send
in their hard earned cash to some
mail order house in payment for
goods that could have been bought
cheaper at their home store.
Why do they do it? 1t is owing
partially to the desire of the average
person to be humbugged and partial
ly to the effect of persistent advertis-
ing. The mail order house sends out
it's attractive literature to every fam
lily in the country. In this literature,
composed of well illustrated cata-
logues and cheap magazines known
as mail order papers, the goods are
set out in the most attractive man.
ner. 1t is tempting bait, and the
| fish bite.
All of these millions come out of
the legitimate trade Of the country
merchant, the man who has invested
his capital, built himself home and
been active in building up the town,
with the expectation that he would
be allowed to do a legitimate busi-
ness in a legitimate way. He is en-
titled to the trade Of his town and
the country adjacent. He pays his
taxes and contributes to the support
of the community. That community
owes him reciprocal duty--the duty
to give him the preference Of trade,
everything else equal. This Is the
theory of all organized civilized COM
munities, beginning with che family
and going on up through every or
ganization to that Of the state. Home
protection from foreign robbers Is
the first duty of every good citizen.
If the village and town life that has
grown up under natural laws OF
trade is to be maintained the retail
business must be preserved against
the unfair inroads Of the mail order
business. And this can be done only
by organization and education. Let
the people know the facts about the
mail order business, and the offer
ings on the altar of credulity will
grow beautifully less.