The evening herald. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1906-1942, 1908-09-04
THE RAMBLER.

uaA ana l VIII nave StHltNHlNE w st,
about the trip one OF these DAYS, l
was the first time | was up there anC
naturally am "hllcd to the brim'
with the grandeur Of that section ui
the county. hut that is not what
want To speak OF today. Ny theme
viii be. "The Pcddlers" Do you
know that the people of this town ar,
u peculiar lot During the early part
of the summer there were no fruit
On the pedd.crs from over the noun
tain to supply MS with our fruit. What
was the result Everyone knows
without any explanation on my part.
In the course Of time and change oi
the business conditions of this com
mnnity We were favored with one of
the best fruit and vegetable supply
houses that you will find On the coast
Did the people appreciate II? No. |
have seen housewives 20 out and pur-
chase fruit from peddler and pay
two bits u box more for IL than she
could have bought II for right in this
town. A portion Of what she bought
was spoiled. She had the privilege
Of making her selection from a large
number OF boxes niecely displayed in
n store room and II when It reached
her home she found II was good on
top and bad underneath she had the
privilege OF returning II and getting
her money back.
Now, this may seem To YOU like a
good deal OF an advertisement. and
you may. on that account, hesitate
to print II: but | want to assure you
1t In on the square; that ! have no
axe to grind and there is no behind
thc-back pay TO this. simply voice
the indignation every business man
ought to feel over this peddler bust
ness. was talking to one OF them
today on this very point. and he said:
THE only remedy for this is
heavy license-one sufficient to pro-
tect the home merchant and ye, low
enough that the home merchant will
not be able to monopolize the busi-
ness and hold the people up. These
peddlers should be kept out. They
come over here with their load OF
fruit and vegetables and what do
they do? They don't spend five cents
here that they can get out OF spend.
ing. They carry the feed for their
horses and often lunch for themselv-
Is and II is a certainty that they new
er patronize any Of our stores. On
the other hand We have In the town
merchants selling the same stun. on
ly that II Is Of an infinitely superior
quality. These men live here, spend
their money here. help 10 support the
city and county; purchase from our
own farmers and orchardists: sell
as cheap, and as u rule cheaper, than
the peddlers and handle q superior
grade of stun. In addition 10 this
they carry wide variety and thus
bring to the people OF klamath Falls
the best In the markets OF the coast.
II strikes me that the people ought
To show a greater degree OF apprecia-
tion Of the efforts put forth to fur
nish them with the necessities and
luxuries OF life
As a matter OF fact itinerants OF
all classes should be Obliged to pay
Middle West the cities and towns
have long recognized the necessity of
protecting the home merchant from
these pirates. AZ rule they are the
rankest fakes--mere human wolves
who travel from place 10 place prey
Ing upon the guileless public. The
old argument that II the people are
fools enough to be bilked by such
people they simply get what they de-
serve is poor one. Il gives small
satisfaction TO the home merchant,
especially along about the time he
has to pay his taxes. sign n subscrip-
lion list or help out In some charit-
able movement Then the merchant
Is all right. He Is the one that pays
the bills: but when II comes to the
poor. down-trodden common peo-
pie" to come up and show that he Is
made OF the right kind Of stuff-well
that IL different story.
The slogan Of the people of Kiam.
ath Fails should be "Patronize home
industry" But I am sorry to say
that It is not. Any day you can stand
In the postofiice and see money orders
sent out TO the mail order houses ana