The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-05-04
COMMUNICATION.
Which Shall it Be, Your Home Mer.
chant or the Catalogue House.
Mr.. Editor:

: Mr. Editor:
| desire to attempt, as a merchan
and tax payer, to show the consumers
both OF our town and parish, why they
should deal at home instead of send
ing their money to foreign territory
such being done daily in our midst And
in order to do SO beg to be allowed the
privilege OF using space in the columns
of your valuable paper. | shall begin
by asking every consumer what is the
greatest evil that confronts our home
merchants? My answer would be, the
competition Of catalogue houses,-and
the answer would be the right one.
We have only to review the facts to
see what an unfair situation confronts
the retail business of our town and
parish. First, the retail merchant
help to maintain his town, parish
and state governments. He contri-
butes to the community in the en-
ployment of clerks in the payment
OF rents, or in taxes if owning proper
ty; he is patron of the banks and
without his patronage the town news
paper would suspend. He contributes
| to every institution and every enter
prise that helps his town. He gives of
roads and bridges and has a financial
interest in every church and school
house in the community in which he
lives. In time of public calamity his
heart is responsive and his hands are
open wide to help the homeless and
the bereaved one. 3
He carries a stock of merchandise
which he thinks best for the demand
of his trade, and is there on the spot
to fulfill every promise and make good
every transaction he makes. In the
spring he supplies the farmer and
waits until the harvest for his pay, and
if, as is sometimes the case, the crop
fails, then he waits another year, and
in many instances longer. He buys at |
more than the market price the pro-
duce of the farmer and enables him |
to turn into money much that would |
otherwise be lost. He sells the mer-
chandise at a cash price and gets his
money on the installment plan. How
about the catalogue merchant? He |
nf,;h 60
from which he draws his trade his /
name is not on the tax rolls, his bene-
ficence is not seen in the local church.
school house and charitable institu-
tions; his name is not written on the
lists that are often circu-
lated in behalf of those whom sorrow
and adversely have overtaken. He is
deaf when called upon by your cry for
assistance. He offers no market where
the thrifty wife may dispose of her
garden truck, her surplus butter.
chickens and eggs, neither does he aid
The farmer or the mechanic by gen.
erous extension of credit, nor do either
look to him for help in times of crop
failures or financial panics. OF what
good is the firm of Wardgomery &
Co., Rowears e Sawouck, John Smith
md many others to the local banker,
he local printer or the man seeking
in YOU locality? He
axes everything and gives nothing in !
"turn. He iS drain upon the coun- f
ry, and yet the local retail merchant |
S daily confronted with his prices, =
With his catalogue. with his goods in
he hands of the people whom he has
ided in many ways. Daily we see in
tances where the people of our COM
nunity have bought at no lower price,
nd often at higher price, especial
y after transportation charges have
cen added to the cost of the arti-
lie bought) the same kind of goods
hat we have on our shelves, and
'hich was purchased to meet legiti-
late home competition and to be sold
reasonable profit.
Is this not the most unjust and de-
lorable condition Of business that
YER confronted our merchants? (and
ask the question in all the courtesy
nd frankness which the occasion de-
lands) Is not your home merchant
his part to the main
,nance of the municipal, parish and
,ate governments? Is he not giving
is support to all the public institu-
ons in which you are interested?
oes he not stand behind you in times
financial distress? Is he not your
llow citizen, your neighbor and your
lend? Do you give him the liberal {
atronage he is entitled to? Do you {
We him the justice and fairness
hich he deserves LET us encourage
ome institutions, let us buy at home,
t us keep our money in circulation
nong ourselves. I repeat, which shall
be, your home merchant or the cata-