Enterprise news-record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Or.) 1910-1911, 1911-03-29
A BUSINESS MAN TELLS
US WHAT'S THE MATTER.

(By L. l.. Fuller in Labor Press.)
In little town not a thousand
miles from Portland, dwells a little
business man. He owns little store
and also has little job as postmas-
ter. One evening not long ago. a
group of men, waiting for the arriv-
al of the mail, were discussing Ia
Dor troubles.
After listening for a time, this lit
tie business man joined the discussion
with the remark: Now, boys. if
you will just listen to me a minute,
I'll tell you just what's the matter.
The average workingman is 100 shift
less and extravagant. He spends ev-
cry cent he gets and then grumbles
because he don't get ahead. He tries
to live too high, and does not keep
within his income. If all workingmen
would be industrious, and save their
money, they would soon be all right,
and these labor troubles would cease.
How much ought a man to save
up from his earnings each week?"
asked a stranger among the group.
Should he save all his wages, or
one-half, or one-fourth, or one-tenth?'
why, of course, he couldn't save
all, said the little business man, nor
even one-half and probably one-fourth
would be too much but he could save
one-tenth, and if everyone would do
that regularly and stick to it, we
would soon be all right"
do you. really think So" asked
the stranger. There are thirty mil
lion workers in the United States,
earning on an average of about ten
dollars a week each. If every one saves
up one-tenth Of his wages, or one
dollar per week each, these workers
would save up thirty million dollars
in week, one hundred and TWEEN
ty million dollars in a month, one bill
lion five hundred and sixty million
dollars in a year, and three billion
one hundred and twenty million dol
lars in two years, which is more
money than there is in the United
States. Now, tell me, please, how
1t would make everything all right
to withdraw from circulation and lay
up every dollar in the United States?
What would you do business on, my
friend?"
The lis eners looked interested. The
little business man gasped for breath
partially recovered and stammered,
Il did-didn't say lay it all up and
keep it layed up"
BEG your pardon" replied the stra
ger, "but that is exactly what you
did say:.Tf every one would save
up one-tenth of his money and stick
to it, we would soon be all right"
WELL" said the little business man
''if l did, didn't mean it that way
How did you mean it, then? What
would you have the working man do
with his money if he is not to con-
tinue saving it?''
Invest it in home, the same as l
did," said the little business man,
"and quit paying rent"
when shall the worker buy his
homer" asked the stranger, "at the
end of the first week, when he has
saved up one dollar, or at the end of
the month, when he has saved up
four dollars, or at the end of year
when he has saved up fifty-two dol
lars, or shall he keep on saving it up
for two years, till all the money is
layed up, and then buy an eight-room
house and a couple of lots with
the one hundred and four dollars he
will then have?"
The little business man was speech.
less. He winked hard and swallowed
lump in his throat. His face grew
redder as the listening group grinned
appreciatively and expectantly.
"You started out to tell us just
what is the matter said the stran-
ger, ''but you haven't done it yet. Are
you one of those visionary and i'm
practical drsamers' we read about?
II every laboring man would do as
you advise the entire business of this
country would be paralyzed in less
than two months. Your business and
that of others like you. depends on
the fact the average workingman, in
stead of being lazy and improvident
Is Industrious to hurtful degree
far more industrious than those who
criticize him. He loves his family
more than he loves money, and tries
to make his hard earned dollars
bring to wife and children all the
comfort and Joy that he possibly can
therefore he spends those dollars free
ly. though not always wisely; and
your business, my friend, depends
absolutely on this fact
Just then the mail arrived and the
little business man retired to distrib.
ute it.