The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1909-11-12
Patronize Home Industries.

PatrOnize Home Industries.
For the benefit of those who,
when they have money to spend,
patronize the mail order houses,
and. when they have no money,
are accommodated by their home
merchants, we publish the fol
lowing letter written by promi-
nent physician Of Kalamazoo to
Sears q Roebuck Of Chicago. 1t
seems that this establishment,
since it has been unable to obtain
advertising space in the local
papers, has taken the method of
writing personal letters request
ing the recipient to state his
reasons why he did not buy Of
them. The following is the ply
sician's reply:
kalamazoo, Oct. 10, 1909.
"Your letter of recent date,
asking why | have not traded
with you for a long time is re-
ceived, and as you ask me to tell
you frankly why, | will give you
a few reasons. First, | am in
business in this community and
am looking to this community,
with its varied industries, for my
support | cannot ask the mer.
chants OF this town for their sup
port if | do not give them mine
Second, in looking over my books
| fail to find either Mr. Sears
Mr. Roebuck or other of your
company's members names,
which reminds me that neither
of these gentlemen have ever
given me penny's patronage.
Why is this Am | too far away,
or have neither of these gentle
men needed physician, or are
they afraid of the mail order
plan when it comes to the prac-
tice of medicine? | can certainly
give as good satisfaction by mail
as your house can, and will ap-
preciate a call from either of
them when in need of medical
service. Third, in looking over
the subscription lists for improv-
ing our streets and public high
ways, | have failed to find the
name of either member of your
firm down for one penny to assist
in the work. Also, | have been
unable to find your name on any
of the charity lists where help
has been rendered to our poor
In other words. you are not down
as a contributor to our Tuber-
colosis Colony or Crioside Club,
or either of our hospitals. In
fact, in all the movements for the
betterment of our condition.
where our community has needed
the united efforts of her public
spirited citizens, | have failed to
find your name among the list OF
our contributing merchants.
Your name is not on our city tax.
books, nor do | find where you
have paid city license to do a
mercantile business in competi-
tion with our home merchants.
These are a few answers TO your
questions. and | trust you will
see the justice of them.
If any community desires to
attain the highest degree OF
prosperity, there must be a united
effort, and the welfare of each
individual constituting that com.
munity must be an object of con
sideration. To ignore the mer-
chant who is striving to build up
a business in your town, and who
is willing to extend you favors
TO the extent Of his ability, and
patronize those who have no in.
terest 10 you except TO get your
money, is, to say the least, poor
business policy. 1t will never
help build up town. 1t will
never bring any degree of pros
perity to the surrounding coun-
try, and if carried on exclusively
would soon result in the loss of
the many advantages which are
enjoyed by we'll organized COM