The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-03-18
WEDNESDAY, MARCH Is, 1908.
PATRONIZE HOME MERCHANTS

PATRONIZE HOME MERCHANTS.
While most of the citizens OF Mon
tana recognize the Importance OF
maintaining home institutions, it APP
pears that some of them have &C
ouired the mail order habit that is
prevalent among residents OF other
states who fail to observe the golden
rule. "Do as you would have others
do to YOU" is a maxim which, If
applied to every day business trans.
actions, will prove beneficial and
satisfactory to all parties concerned.
The home merchant deserves and
should receive the business of the
community in which he is located, In
preference to a mail order concern
that is located a thousand or more
miles distant, audewhich has no per.
eonal interest whatever in the welfare
of Montana citizens except as a source
Of tribute. The Montana business man
is a member of the community whose
presence here is as necessary and de-
sirable as that of the rancher, stock.
man, or mechanic. He is doing his
part in the good!work OF building up
the country, and is entitled to recog'
milton and patronage in all trans
actions in which he is prepared to en-
gage.
A locality without a home merchant
would be seriously handicapped in its
efforts to keep up with the procession.
The immediate needs Of the community
are supplied by home institutions. and
it is proper and to the best interests
OF citizens generally that local enter
prises of every kind be developed by
giving them all the patronage and en-
couragement possible.
It does not require any extended
argument to prove that the mail order
habit is 9 bad habit. The mar who
sends his money to q mail order con
cern q thousand miles distant, fol
goods that he could buy from hi
neighbor, the local merchant, lose'
more than he can possibly gain. Th'
money he sends away never come
back. Every dollar sent out of tn
local community in this way, reduce
its working capital to the extent of th
remittance. 1t disappears from Tn
channels of local trade, and canuo
be applied to the purchase of product
which its former owner may wish t.
sell.
The alleged cheapness of certai
mail order goods is the bait whic
catches most Of the patrons Of thes
concerns, and the latter generally dir
cover that the quality of the goods
as cheap as the price. They are of
grade that would not be accepted at
local store, where the customer has a
opportunityito examine the goods b.
fore he parts with his money.
The home merchant, in addition I
his services to. the community in
business..way, is one Of ourselves
Montana citizen whose welfare is q
fected by that of his neighbours. II
tax contributions to the public trea
ury assist inlproviding school facil
ties and defraying the cost of cit
county and state government, al
when financial aid on behalf Of loo
enterprises Is desired, the name Of tt
home merchant always appears on Il
list. How much is received from Il
mail order houses for the support
schools in which the children of Mo
,ana parents are educated? What
the amount of their contribution t
ward meeting the expenses of loo
government, or promoting enterpris
that will benefit their Montana pa
rons:
There are reciprocal obligation
that should be recognized in su,
matters. The home merchant provid
an assortment OF goods for the II
and convenience OF the commuui,
and also furnishes a market for sol
Of the produce Of his locality. +
these accommodate ions, and for I
further reason that he is a useful a
desirable member of the commuui
be is entitled to the preference
trade.