Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-12-21
Parcels Post and Other Thinss.

In a recent editorial, the Journal, III
commenting on the parcels post ques-
ton, remarked that there We're two
sides tc it: first. the convenience ana
independence Of rural people constant
L. in touch with the great markets OF
the world, and able to secure quickly
through the mails any sort OF mer-
chandise they might require from the
great cities. On the other hand Is
the small dealer, whose business de-
ponds upon the home trade.
A friend of both parties asked that
few points in relation to this side
of the question be given prominence.
He calls attention to the ethics of re-
ciprocity-"you buy of me and l VIII
buy of you." He declares that ii peo-
Die of the country districts and the
villages send their money away 10
the great cities for clothing, millin-
ery, medicines, and knickknacks, they
are sending their money out of this
part of the country and are not IN turn
traded with by those to whom they send
the cash. The big mail order houses
do not take butter, eggs and poultry
in exchange for their goods. They ask
and must receive cash with the order.
or cash on delivery of the goods. ana
it takes some time in the processes
OF commerce to bring the dollars you
send to Chicago from Maine back INTO
the channels of trade in the Pine Tree
State-even if ono does think he is
buying better goods at a lesser price,
under the old system in vogue when
blacksmith shop loaferS swapped jack
knives "unsight, unseen"
our merchants, our mechanics and
our industries depend upon home trade
for existence. If Augusta is trade
center and people in its legitimate
trade territory do not patroniZe bust
ness and industrial places here. they
canrot expect the progress which each
and every section Of the State desires
to maintain The next census would
show a retrograde movement on the
part of our smaller cities and towns
while the great trade centers like Bos-
ton, New York, Chicago and Phila-
delphia would boast of an enormous
increase of business and the production
OF sky-scrapers and dazzling collec-
This is not reciprocity.
In the district of Maine, of which
Augusta is the trade center, the mer-
chants and other business depend upon
the district for hay, grain, fuel and
labor. If the people which make up
the trade district are not loyal to 1t
and send their money away to mail
vive. They depend upon the people OF
their district for support. If it is not
forthcoming, the business of the dis
trict must decline, and eventually the
people who are sending the money
away must feel its effects. Although
not coming so directly or quickly to
them as to the dealers, in time it must
come, and the section be without its
adequate circulation OF money because
there is no business.
The true spirit of reciprocity is to
deal with those who deal with you,
buy of home folks. have your work
done by those workers nearest at
hand, and keep your money in the
legitimate trade district to which you
belong. This means prosperity for
your neighbors and the upgrowth of
your own neighborhood. 1t is a good
plan not to get in the habit of run
ming out Of town every time you wish
to buy q few dollars worth Of cloth
ing or furniture or any sort Of mer-
chardiso, for the sake of saving a
small percentage in price at little
larger and better advertised market.
AS g usual thing. the loss of time and
travelling expenses more than make
up for the difference in price, and you
have left your dollars outside. which
should have been kept to build up
home industries.
When true reciprocity prevails, and
Maine people. with money to invest,
invest it in home industries and insti-
tutions rather than in wildcat schemes
and unknown industries Of the distant
West, Maine will grow as rapidly as
some of those places which are just
now shouting of their accomplishments
in tine last ten years.