Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-02-19


LOCOMOTIVES; but whether or not 1t Is
also a fact, as our contemporary claims
that the goods offered are not up to the
standards of the same goods bought ir
face to face transactions over the
counters Of home merchants, We do moi
know. However, this is hardly of sc
much consequence as are certain othel
conditions that enter into the situation
OF course, we do not want to be un-
derstood as advising anybody against
buying where they can get the best
goods the cheapest; but we do wish
we were able to impress every reader
with the fact that the element o,
cheapness is not so important in trade
as is the element of reciprocity; thai
we all lose more through failure tc
develop and cultivate home fields thar
we ever make by haphazard forays
into foreign fields.
To illustrate more clearly what Is
meant, and still following the sugges-
tions Of the News, suppose we assume
that q Chicago mail order house car
furnish all manner Of merchandise
cheaper than our home merchant car
furnish it, and all Of us take all o,
our wants to the mail order house, ther
what is to become Of our home mer-
chant? And If we do away with the
home merchant, then what? With him
will go the clerks, the book-keepers
the draymen, and others depending
upon them, and then who will be left
to buy the chickens, the butter, the
eggs, the meat and the other produce
and with no market for these things
where will the money come from with
which to buy stuff from the mail or
der house?
It will be understood, Of course, thai
We do not mean to represent that ev-
erything depends upon the prosperity
Of the local merchant; that he per-
sonally, Is absolutely indispensable to
the holding together Of the society; but
we do claim that the principle here
outlined runs through our whole busi-
ness and industrial organization, and
the interests Of every business and pro-
fession are so inseparably interviewer
that it is practically impossible for any
individual to isolate himself. even fol
a little while, without doing injury to
others as we'll as himself.
It is a fact that only a small fraction
of the amount paid to the local mer-
chant remains in the community. The
only part that remains is that which
represents his profit. 1t Is fact that
he has to send the balance abroad to
pay the cost price of his goods, just as
the purchaser dealing direct with par
ties abroad would have sent both cost
and profit. But that little item desig-
mated as profit, as small as it may be
plays a much more important part In
our local economy than most average
individuals have ever realized, and i,
helps to do them good In so many ways
that If they could appreciate the halt
of them they would think twice OF
three times before putting 1t beyond
their reach. For instance, 1t not only
helps to stiffen the demand for coun-
try produce; but 1t helps to educate
the children, bear the burden Of tax.
alton, support the churches, the doc
tors, the newspapers, the postal SER
vice, and do a hundred other things
that make life worth living.
While we would not undertake tc
disparage the quality Of the goods
furnished by the mail order houses
we do not believe these concerns car
furnish the same value that local peo.
pie can furnish at less cost. If they
furnish bargains in some lines, we
think they will make it up in others.
But the main point Of the whole
question is for home people to patron
ize people who patronize them; te
keep their dollars at home as far al
possible; to remember that few cents
apparent excess in cost is often made
up in other ways; that unless othel
people have money, we cannot make
money out Of them.
The subject Is not an insignificant
one. It is big and broad enough fol
the biggest and broadest Of people ant
it is entitled to the most careful con.
sideration from everybody.