Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1913-06-20
CATAlOG HOUSES TEAR DOWN
COUNTRY TOMBSTONE
TRADING BUILDS UP.
THE LOCAL MERCHANT FIRST OF ALL
Grades Very often Fall Short of Being
Like Pictures and Descriptions in
Catalog-It's Up to the Buyer
Who to Help.


ing depends in large measure upon a
fairly equitable distribution Of popula-
ton, trade and social and educational
over the whole land. Any |
system which tends to congest people
and business and social and education |
al institutions in the few large CEN
tiers is injurious to the best interests
of the nation as a whole. Not only
does it strip the small cities and
towns and rural sections of everything
that makes them desirable places Of
residence and business but 1t in
creases the social and industrial evils
inevitably peculiar to the larger cities.
AS business institutions the mail or
der houses have a right to exist and
competition and the future will de-
termine their economic value and
standing, but it is evident that the
two systems-catalog house trading
and home trading-are irreconciliable.
One can prosper only at the expense
of the other; the one tears down coun-
try towns and the well-being Of rural
communities, while the other builds up
these towns and communities. Which
system should we encourage?
The handsome illustrations and ex-
aggerated descriptions Of the catalog
possess a lure and attraction difficult
to resist, but careful investigation will
demonstrate that the catalog house
system is not SO superior as is COM
monty supposed. Their greater buy
ing power is fully Offset by their great
er selling expense-heavy costs of
publishing and distributing their large
catalogs, the larger dividends they
pay their stockholders, etc. 1t is fire.
quently found that the articles deliv-
the pictures and descriptions had led
the buyer to expect and that quality,
transportation charges and terms OF
sale considered, they might have re-
ceived better value for the money
from the local dealer. The fallacy of
the system is further shown by the
fact that catalog houses generally do
not sell to the people in the cities
where they are located; they cannot
exhibit the goods and compete with
the smaller regular local stores.
We cannot answer for the rest of
the United States but we-the citizens
of this community-can decide for our
selves which system is the best
which is really the most economical
for us in the long run-and do our
best, by actions as well as words, to
advance that system in our own home
town and community.
Gone to Look for Job.
Tom Plowman lived on section farm
Not far from prosperous village;
loused his palm
But thrived by industrious tillage.
He saved up some money and stood
very well,
His luck would have lasted for all we
can tell,
If he never had heard of Chicago.
One day big catalog came through
the mail
That told of wonderful heater;
The figures were tempting, Tom swal,
lowed the tale,
Says he, MIR. Merchants a cheater
His profit must be near hundred per
cent,
I'll just call his bluff and unless he'll
relent
I'll order stove from Chicago"
So he drove to the village and entered
the store
With an air that was lofty and
knowing.
Says he, "Mr. Merchant, please tell me
once more
The price of that stove you were
showing
'Thirty-five, cash or credit, the best
one in town."
Tom turned on his heel and went out
with frown
And sent off check to Chicago.
He Dragged to his neighbors and they
in a trice
Sent away for whatever they
| needed;
They often were stuck, but they got
a low price,
Which, of course, was the one thing
they needed.
The merchant soon failed and sold out
his store
And this was the notice he left on his
door: