The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-06-25
SPEND YOUR MONEY AT HOME

In a communication to the Island
or. signed by Fl. A. Armstrong, and
published in another column in this
weeks issue, Mr.. Armstrong takes
execution to an article published in
this paper in its issue of June IL.
relative to the launch rate war and
the injury resulting theretrom to the
merchants of the county. First, he
accuses the mechants of having
brought about legislation that Kill
, the Parcels Post. AS applied to the
mechants of this county this state
ment is in no sense correct. as they
have taken no part whatever in oppo-
sition to the Parcels Post bill. Even
had they done so, as protection to
themselves, what crime would they
have committed? We should be en-
dea7Cring to build up San Juan Coun-
ty and not the great mail order houses
of Chicago and other cities of the east.
Second, he says. "They organized
themselves into secret societies. thus
knocking out the consumer. Again
Mr.. Armstrong has false impression
unless be refers to consumers who
are not in the habit of paying for
what they consume. The San Juan
County Merchants Protective Associ-
alton was organized for the sole pur-
pose of strengthening the credit sys
tenn and protecting itself against bad
accounts. This is done in almost
every town and city in the United
States. and If there are any places
where it has not been done, it should
be, as it is a protection to the buyer
as we'll as the seller. i. g. the fewer
accounts lost by the merchant he
closer margin he can sell upon. Third.
s'They have done away with the poor.
tired pedler who not only sold more
cheapIy. but who does more real hard
labor in day. than the merchant
does in a week. Poor fellow, it he
works hard. whose fault is it? He
certainly works the people to finish,
and many Of them seem willing to be
worked. If there is any class of deal
ers who unload more junk onto the
dear people than do the pedlers they
ought to be given place in booth
on the Pay Streak at the A. Y. P. Elk.
position and an admission fee charged
to see them. In the opinion of the
writer. generally speaking, they are
a nuisance in any community, and
any legislation tending to put stop
to their practices would be heartily
endorsed by most of us. Fourth,
"Why do they not try to pass a law
to prevent us dealing with mail order
houses?" This is free country and
people are at liberty to deal where
ever they desire. but the man who
spends his money at home is the one
who does just that much in helping
the community in which he lives and
earns his livelihood. Don't ask a
man to furnish you employment or
buy your products and then take this
money and send it away. It helps the
other fellow but it don't help our
town. or county. 1t may be true that
many articles can be purchased in the
cities more cheaply than here, and
Tor this reason. Large dealers make
it practice to take some leader and
sell it at great sacrifice in order to
attract your trade, bat on many other
articles. if you buy them. you are
almost certain to get soaked" Then,
again, the city merchant does thous-
ands of dollars worth of business
where our home merchants do but a
dollars worth. Let US boost for our
county and not help Bellingham or
any other foreign community by en-
couraging the present rate war.