West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-12-17
BOOMS HOME TRADE
Prosperity Week a New Foe to
Mail Order Menace.
BOOSTS LOCAL INDUSTRIES.
Original Idea Of . Bright California
Girl That May BE Applied 20 Any
Town or Section With Lasting ssne.
ht-May Become General

S's"s 'oes o' brtgNt California
Girl That May BE Applied TO Any
Town or Section With Lasting Bsne.
6t-msy Become General
Did you ever hear OF prosperity
week? Perhaps not. for II is some
thing new under the sun. II is an en-
tcrprise OF November. 1908, In south
ern California. but Il might Just as
well be transported TO md transplant.
ed In our town or any town.
Some OF the New England and other
states have their old home week. when
former residents or expatriated natives
gather at the old home and spend n
week in revislting familiar scenes and
talking over the past with the well re-
membered oldest inhabitant who has
been there since the big snow OF 1S46
But that IL merely sentimentaI-fine
and healthful sentiment, to he sure
but nothing more. Prosperity week Is
hne sentiment plus something more
substantial. IL is practical PROPOSE.
tion. IL Is n business proposition. IL
means more money In the pockets OF
the old home folks who are still doing
stands. In fact it seems general
liyening up OF interest I'm the home
place from the standpoint OF trade.
Prosperity week as designed by its
originator IL a business booming week,
home trading week. 1t means much
TO tho community concerned I'm the
way of tho patronizing OF home indus.
tries. and IL means something to the
mall order concerns OF tho big cities In
the way OF falling on In patronage.
Prosperity week was invented by a
young woman I'm LosSAngeies. when
sha suggested TO the chamber OF COM
merce that week be set aside under
that designation during which every
body should make particular effort
to buy only home grown products and
trade only with local merchants, cut
ting out mail orders altogether, the
bright iden was adopted promptly, and
the week beginning Nov. 10 was so
designated. The result2 Well, imme.
diately the idea took hold, and thou
sands of citizens entered with enthusi-
asm into the project. The plan was
advertised literally I'm the home pa
pers. Committees were appointed 10
work up interest. Other committees
were named 70 devise ways and means
for creating n hearty home trade SEN
tfment Still others were formed TO get
up tangible methods Of celebrating the
week. such ns an exposition of home
products. so that everybody could see
just what the local producers and man
ufacturers had TO offer the buying pub
lie. the home people. their friends and
neighbors in their own community.
And Secretary Frank Virgins OF the
Los Angeles chamber OF commerce,
who has proved his ability I'm many
states as boomer for his city, pro-
nounced the girls proposition "a ten
million dollar idea" declaring that
prosperity week would benefit home
Industries by at least 100000.
Now, why Is not this the genesis of
a practical proposition that should
take root I'm every community and re-
suit ultimately In defeating the dan
gerous growth and menace OF the mail
order business. which is choking the
prosperity OF thousa nda OF small cities
and towns and rural communitiesf
Prosperity week can be applied to
any town, this town included. II 40
applied the result is quite likely to sur
prise many of us. IL IL safe to say
that but small percentage of citizens
know just what goods are produced or
Manufactured I'm their own community.
By concerted effort. a tangible show.
Ing such as might be made during n
prosperity week, the producers and
the consumers would be brought to-
gether. The home products would be
put hight under the eyes and noses OF
the home consumers, 80 10 speak, so
that the gulf between buyer and seller
would be wiped out.
Suppose your town should get up n
weeks exhibition OF home products.
The local merchants Of course would
DO included I'm the displays, with
booths showing their special bargains
for the week and, for that matter, all
the year bargains. The butcher the
baker, the candlestick maker" nli
would find II profitable TO participate
In the display. Down the street may
be man who makes aK handles su-
perior 90 the kind you buy outside OF
town, but perhaps you are not aware
that he is making az handles at all
Out In the edge Of town may be n can
ming factory which Is putting up
canned goods that beat any you buy
abroad. From the smallest 20 the lar
gest the manufacturers and the pro-
ducers and the merchants would come
IN for their share OF the showing and
prosperity week should give tho mail
order octopus n twisted tentacle-the
one that reaches out TO grab your com
munity by the neck and throttle It
while your home enterprises would
get an injection Of the elixir OF life.
Who will start tho prosperity week
plan for Us here at homer
The Billboard FIaht.