The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1912-05-11

help our fellows, let it be done, not |
through business transaction, but as
a simple gratuity. In this way We
always knows at the start what
our generosity has cost us, without
having to wait until the books are
closed at the end of the year, when
the desperate accounts are charged
off.
1t Is not the purpose of this paper
to inveigh against the credit system;
far from it: Without it no Govern
ment and few individuals could pro-
gress; upon it the entire commercial
fabric rests. But credit should be ex-
tended along safe and sane lines, and
only to those who deserve It; and at
this point is where judgment of men
comes in. In my own experience |
have known quite a number of men
common honesty-whose promise
could be relied on implicitly, and who
would pay their debts though it should
be ito their own let and hindrance."
Such men, as rule, are very conser-
vative buyers, and we are always will
ing to sell them more than they are
disposed to purchase. These pru lent
men are careful of their promises. If
they promise to pay a debt on GER
tain day, when they see they will not
be able to meet the obligation, they al
most invariably come in and prepare
Us for what would otherwise be n dis
appointment; they see they cannot pay
and the notice of their inability to do
SO is to us an earnest of their integri-
ty and of the ultimate payment Of the
debt.
There is another class of men, whose
patronage is hardly worth having;
though they are possessed Of suffi-
Gent property to make the debt col
lcctable at the end of law suit. But
most of us have enough Of tire Quaker
In eur makeup to abhor law suits. Be-
sides, these men haggle ger the
prices charged, they didn't get this
and they didn't get that" and the re-
suit of the settlement is lowering
of or estimate of the race al the
strengthening of our belief in the
doctri'.c of total depravi.y.
There is plenty of good credit bust
ness to be had; what we ought to do
is to weed out the parasites. 1t viii
require heroic measures to accomplish
this, but it can be done, and that to
the betterment of conditions general
ly. You, as merchants, have been fire.
quently called upon by other mer-
chants, with whom you desired to
open an account, for a statement of
your affairs. Why is the retail GUS
toner entitled to more consideration
than is accorded you, who are a fixture
in the town in which you do business,
have something tangible in the way of
property, whilst he has only to put
out the fire, call the dog and move, -
taking your goods and maledictions
with him?
If in the above recital, | have not
given you examples met with in your
individual business experiences, you
are to be congratulated. 1t seems to
me that they are common to the his
tory of every business happening Of
tener with some than with others, but
happening
| shall now crave your indulgence to
digress somewhat from the subject
matter of this address, to say that the
best I can wish for your success at flu.
ture conventions, is, that every mem.
Der of your Association devote the
same intelligent and untiring energy
displayed by your arrangement com
mittee of which Mr.. Ellis Hickman
Is the local representative. If this
convention is not a success it is not
because he has not done everything
In his power to make it So
| am IN aaIDnn n0lTuI