The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-03-15
Mail Order Houses.
March 10, 1912

March 10, 1912
Editor Caldwell Tribune:
l was little surprised to find that
you made any reply't what l wrote
in regard to the relations of the agri-
cultural towns and the farmers, and
more than surprised at the stand you
took. But | see at second thought it
was to be expected. You having been
reared in town could not be expected
to soc the farmer just as he is or the
relation between the farmers and the
town in full and clear sense, no more
than our present congress as it is now
composed, can be expected to legis-
late for the whole people, and particu-
larly the producers, as they are not
of them. Only q as l remember it
(members of both houses of congress)
that have been producers since they
were q years old. Nearly all the rest
are lawyers. They make the statutes.
q dislike to call them laws, since God
made our first laws.) They, the law
yers, interpretate the statutes; they
tell us what congress meant when it
created the statute, and they live and
fatten by these statutes, and at the
expense of the producers. And what
else can we expect? for one expect
nothing but what we are receiving at
the hands of congress as it is now, or
from the towns as things are now.
try to be charitable, do my best to
look at each side of the shield. l am
not fault finding as fault finding goes.
l simply give the facts as they exist
as shown by statistical reports reciev-
ed from the various departments of
our government. Knowing the Tri-
bune as | have for nearly 20 years,
knowing it to be less fearful than
most papers, and presuming that l
could in the end get the editor to see
things as they are, wrote The Tri-
bune, and it going off as it did does
not discourage me little bit.
Now as to the country merchant
being a convenience, that goes with
out saying. / did not raise that ques-
ton. They might even be classed with
luxuries. The question is, can the
producers pay the expense? My an
swer is, not indefinitely. And will
add, the trend of the people must be
changed e'er long or dire results will
follow Note the conditions of the
towns today Caldwell is no excep-
ton, in fact is far better off than many
other towns, this on account of the
great activity in the rural districts.
You seemed to doubt my statement
as to the IS per cent That might be
too great if every thing was purchased
through mail order house, yet not
far off, but things that are ordered
from there is likely to beat it. l will
give you few examples. An extra
grade of surrey wheels in Toledo are
worth $1,000, in Seattle $ll.50, in
Caldwell $1,000 (unpainted). 7 am
needing set and made inquiry. "A
few years ago l needed set of spe-
cial wheels, made to order. Caldwell
wanted $4,000, they cost me $16.25
through mail order house. A neigh
Dor told me few days ago of a
standard tool that he has to keep with
his kit, cost him by mail Sac. In Cald-
we'll, $l.25. But these prices are a
small matter; the question is, can the
producers foot the bill?
Of the % million people 1 men
toned as in gainful occupations, l re-
ferred to those in the various profess
sions. But these were not all who
did not produce l might have added
10000 in the saloon business, that
are worse than useless There are
less than 17,5OO,OOO persons in the
United States that can be classed as
producers. Many of the remainder
of the % million are just as useful as
these, but they are not all that. There
is the doctor, the nurse, the teacher
and others that are exceedingly use
full. But this is not the case OF man,
of the lawyers and preachers. In re
ferring to the preachers you say maj
should not live by bread alone. Tha
is doubtless correct. Christ mixe'
fishes with the bread. How many o
the preachers today even. give u
bread? or as near it as whole wheat
l have been student of the Bible a
we'll as economics for many years.
have never found but two preacher
that had the moral courage to stan
up and preach the doctrines OF Chris
square to the people, Neither Q
these denounced the church or tn
church doctrines, but they were dis
missed from their positions or woul
have been had they not resigned. Bu