The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-16
sE1pZTLHY LOLWOaTIY
SA1S LIVE And LIT LIVE.
1t is generally accepted princi

1t is generally accepted princi-
Die taat q man has the right to spcn1
his money where he pleases. ard nc
one Will very seriously attack The
principle, but it is also very sener-
ally conceded that the loyal citizens
will spend every dollar Of his money
at home, when it is possible to 90 SO
That too many people exercise the
right and lose sight of the genera.
concession is evidenced by the large
amount of freight and express mat
ter originating at 521 Holman ave-
nue., and otler points in Chicago
consigned to people whose whole in
terests are bound up in the welfare
and progress of Lakeland. If there
were any good reasons for this too
prevalent disposition to send money
to Chicago and elsewhere. 1t might
not be SO bad, but in a city like ours
where keen competition in almost ev-
cry line of business secured the low
est possible price of goods to the con-
sumner, based on a simple living profit
for the dealer, considering the quail
ity of the article, it is poor policy for
the former and an injustice to our
merchants, as we'll as a distinct and
serious loss to the community. The
main business of every man is or
ought to be, to boost the town in
which he lives, its various lines OF
business. The American working
man, all things considered, when 1t
comes to the question Of labor. de-
livers the best goods and is entitled
to be considered in preference to for
eign labor. He is not true Ameri-
can who hires foreigner and leaves
an American working man idle. That
this is logical, one only has to visit
foreign countries in order to find out
what an Americans chances are in
the labor market compared to the
citizen of that particular country,
and we should take just as much
pride and discriminate just as strict
ly in the matter OF our commerce.
There are people in Lakeland today
who buy their pins in Chicago and
who also purchase the material to
build their home with an imagined
idea that they are saving little
money. 1t is the old falacy of the
spigot and the bunghole. Lakeland
is now one of the best towns Of its
size in the country and could easily
be the best If every citizen would
make 1t strict rule to purchase ev-
cry needed article he uses right at
home. In some few cases he might
pay just a little more, but he would
have a better class Of goods, he would
avoid annoyance and delay caused
by damage, disappointment and
claims for inferiority and breakage,
and would save great deal more
in the end by helping to build up
the various lines of business, upon
, the success or failure of which his
own interests so infallibly depend.
! This is not a new subject, for it
has been ably and persistently han
died by the editor Of our weekly and
daily papers in splendidly and forci-
bly, written articles, but it Is a mat
ter which cannot have too much pub
licity.
This effort of the Lakeland Board
of Trade. to build up the CONNER
cial interests of the community, Is
set forth in article 2 of the consti-
tuition, and It Is the business Of the
secretary to further this activity ia
the best of his ability, which Is the
reason for this dissertation and
which will be followed, from time to
time, by others Of similar and. per-
haps. Of a more specific nature.
A. j. HOLWORTHY,
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