The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1914-06-25
BIG VICTORY OF
LOCAL DEALERS
How One Iowa Town Checked
Catalogue Houses.
BEGAN BY REFUSING CREDIT

wares.
copyrighted. 1914. by Thomas j. suliivan.l
It is not victory that makes the joy
OF Noble hearts, but the combat The
greater the obstacle the more, glory in
overcoming it, and difficulties are but
the maids OF honor to set of the virtue.
The effects of competition are won
derful There are men who rise re-
freshed on hearing of threat-men to
whom crisis which intimidates and
paralyzes the majority comes graceful
and beloved as a bride Competition
infames the enthusiast and drives him
on to action.
The Making of Men.
It is not ease, but effort; not facility,
but difficulty, that makes men. There
is perhaps no station In life ia which
difficulties have not been encountered
and overcome before any decided
measure of success was achieved
Recognizing the retail catalogue
house as worthy foe, competitor,
the local retail merchant, in preparing
for battle must take an inventory of
his many advantages over the mail or
der house.
First and foremost, he is always
working among friends and acquaint-
ances The mail order house must al
ways work as a stranger.
Did any one ever suggest to him be-
fore that perhaps he neglected or over
looked many things important to bust.
ness success?
An Iowa Cure For Bad Habit.
am not an adept at suggestions, so
will refrain from making any, but will
tell Of plan that worked out success
fully in an Iowa town.
The merchants of that town were be-
ing imposed upon by mail order buyers
and organized for their own protection
and determined to cancel all favors
and credit heretofore extended to those
offending citizens.
It developed that the first applicant
was lady who had recently purchased
sewing machine from catalogue
house. Her daughter was about to be
married, and she wished to present her
with parlor set as present and, find
ing her husband short Of ready money,
asked credit from the local dealer.
The Dealer Politely Declined.
The dealer politely declined, advising
that no doubt the mail order house of
Chicago from which she purchased her
sewing machine would be most happy
to extend to her the desired credit.
The good lady, somewhat perturbed,
hurried over to the other furniture
dealer Here she met with the same
suggestion. 81 am sure the mail order
house will grant you all the time you
ask, said the merchant
The lady knew different, though, for
she had read the catalogue and remem.
bered it said Cash in advance"
Mail Order House Doesn't Buy Eggs.
When Mrs Farmer, who had offend
ed, came to town with butter and eggs
the grocer said: Really, Mrs. Farmer,
the butter is fine. and the eggs are
fresh, but am not needing any today.
would suggest. though, that you send
them to a Chicago mail order house.
1t will doubtless be delighted to receive
them In exchange for another box of
groceries such as you purchased from
it last week"
Mrs. Farmer Strengthened herself up,
gave the merchant look which meant
that there were more groceries in town
and started out to find them.
She did, and they gave her the same
advice she received at the first place.
The Turn About Game.
Farmer Independent drove a load
OF corn to town and was offered about
5 cents less than the market price. He
protested The grain man suggested
that maybe the mail order house OF
Chicago would be glad to have the
corn at the market price.
The implement man referred the man
with the secondhand machine TO
Chicago catalogue house, remarking
sarcasticaily that 1t made speciality
Of taking cid goods in trade
The dry goods and clothing men
quoted their stiffest prices and refused
credit, and the hardware man sent
home empty handed the small son of a
catalogue house patron who had asked
fer some tools and nails
An Outcome Pleasing to All.
The merchants all stood firm. Credit
and favors were withheld from all mail
order house patrons.
The victims first became indignant.
but in the course OF time came to see
the injustice they were doing their
home merchants and home town, and
scan they began TO apologize and ac-
knowledge their error and promised In
the future to confne their purchases
TO their home institutions.
Competition Was Helpful"
Today the catalogue houses have no
following in that community.
That Is modern example where
competition was helpful"