Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1913-05-30
PATRoNIzE HOME MERCHANTS
AND PROSPER OR cATALoe
DEALERS AND JUST EXIST.
THE QUESTION BEFORE OUR PEOPLE
Country Towns and Rural Districts
Bound to Receive the Award Either
Way You Buy-Two Short
Instances Given for Study.


cradle part of the country public to
patronize them, presents a problem
that is more vital and serious in its
probable effects upon our national
well-being and prosperity than most
people realize.
The writer has no quarrel with the
catalogue houses themselves. They
have as much right to do business as
anyone else and there is nothing ille-
gal or necessarily wrong in their sys-
tenn of business. 1t is also possible
for q catalogue house to conduct It's
business along strictly fair and hon
orable lines, though not having the
same degree of personal responsibility
as the local merchant, and having no
particular interest in the community
or in the people with whom they do
business. they do not have the same
incentive to give good value and serv-
ice for the money as the home mer-
chant.
Nevertheless, it is not so much the
catalogue houses themselves or their
methods we are concerned with as 1t
is the question of which system OF
business is preferable from the view
point of the greatest good to the gen
eral public. For, be assured, the two
systems-local trading and catalogue
house trading-are irreconciliable;
either one can prosper or increase
only at the expense Of the other. 1t
is competition, strenuous and fair,
which the home merchant must ex-
pect and can meet.
AS between the two systems 1t is
evident that catalogue house trading
ia an influence that tends to draw
trade and population away from coun-
try towns and rural communities into
the big cities. 1t tends to increase the
congestion of business and people in
these big centers with it's many at
tendant social and industrial evils. 1t
also tends to stifie country trading,
kill OF the country town and the farm
er's market for his produce, causes
depreciation OF town and farm land
values and in every way makes the
country q less desirable place in
which to live.
A Great Common Danger.
The following thoughtful article was
written by II. G. Kruse, editor Benton
County Times, Vinton, Iowa:
More and more plainly the fact
dawns upon our mind that the system
of centralized distribution now gain
ing a strong hold on the people is a
menace to the institutions OF our COM
mon country and Is a system fraught
with danger to our very liberties.
Heretofore we have looked upon the
great catalogue houses as agencies
filing q certain want, but that theory
viii not stand an impartial and intel
ligent investigation. Suppose this idea
Ia carried out to the limit and that
the catalogue concerns absorb all the
business of the country. What then?
We will tell you what then" Say
that the catalogue concerns have sup
planted the local distributaries. Is 1t
to be supposed they will rest content
with one-half of the country's bust
ness? Not much. The selling of
everything will be only one function
of the great centralized system OF dis
tribution; next will come the buying
of everything. and with the selling OF
all articles of commerce In the hands
of the few and the buying OF all prod
ucts In the hands OF these same few,
where are we, the common run of peo-
pie, to md a place In which to exer-
else our powers as individuals; and
what is to become of the freedom and
liberties our farmer friends now en-
Joy under q widely spread competitive
system.
We have all along gone on the
theory that the man who earns his
money has the right to spend 1t where
he wills, and we still believe In that
theory, with certain notifications, but
the question OF buying where one Wills
has something involved besides the
mere question of right. There is the
future to think OF.
II the present tendency remains IN
checked the United States OF the fu-
ture will comprise a few extremely
rich, who win manufacture, buy and
distribute, and millions upon millions
of ordinary men. wholly dependent
upon those few. The greatest good
for the greatest number is the under
lying principle that should guide man
and governments in their attitude to-
ward all public questions. Now II the
increased power of the catalogue
houses will mean q greater good to
the greatest number, let us welcome
that power and the few of US who
may be seriously affected seek In
other lines OF endesyor the success we
hope to attain.
But what may seem q present ad-
vantage to the greatest number. gives
nromfxs of scfuaI dfsastar In the