Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-06-16
WOMAN TO BUY
IN HOME town
Quick TO See Mail Order De-
coption
WILL BUILD UP LOCALITY.

Realized That She Was Doing Injus.
ties to Family and Friends by Send.
ing Husbands Earnings to Out Of
Town Competitors - Now Boosts
Home Trade.
copyrighted. 1914. by Thomas J. Sullivan.l
A couple of years ago noticed while
passing through a manufacturing sub
urb of Milwaukee that hundreds Of
large, expensive catalogues were being
distributed.
l was amazed at such an outlay, as
it did not seem possible that they could
get returns from a town which was
situated at the side door Of a large.
prosperous city.
The big mail order houses have
found it necessary In order to win the
confidence Of their patrons to offer bar
gain bats and therefore scatter here
and there through their catalogues
list of certain goods, with which the
public is familiar, with prices attached
that will serve to convince the pro-
spective purchaser that the bargains
are real and not fictitious.
Without license to do so they seem
to be able to prove to their prOspec-
tive patron that they are advertising
items In their catalogues that are Of
fered at prices the local dealer, who
sells the same goods, cannot duplicate,
and the chances are the patron will be
convinced that every article advertised
In the book is sold ut bargain.
Catalogue Houses Alert.
But the mail order house knows its
business. 1t bet on the weakness of
human nature and won. as a personal
investigation Of the town few weeks
later revealed.
l checked up the money sending ia
cilities of the town and was surprised
and amazed to learn that in the few
days that had elapsed since the cata-
logues were distributed no less than
21S money orders had been issued in
favor of the catalogue house, aggregat-
ing total Of several thousand dollars.
Why City Does Not Prosper.
Can any one imagine anything SO
ridiculous--a manufacturing city where
all residents are wage earners, who
live modestly and without luxury.
where cash sales with the home mer-
chant are the exception, not the rule,
sending 219 money orders to an out
side concern for household and person
al necessities which could be bought az
cheaply and delivered more promptly
right at home?
And those same people wonder why
their city does not thrive and prosper.
One woman with whom l had talked
bought shoes for her children. She
said that she had to pay only $1.45 a
pair. while they would have cost her
SLIGO at home.
Yes: she always bought on credit at
home, but usually paid in two or
three months. No: she had never asked
the retail mail order house for credit.
She Was Not q Taxpayer.
No; she was not a taxpayer, but she
sent her children to school. They have
good schools too. Yes; they have sew
ers. water and street lights. and the
city is patrolled and protected by an
ample police force.
90 ho
ness men and taxpayers. of course.
No; the Chicago mail order houses do
not pay anything toward the educa-
ton of her children or the comfort Of
her family.
Sure. she WAS Il church member. and
the church often gave fairs and SO
cables and things. No: the Chicago
mail order house never bought any
tickets. but the home business men
did and paid r;l*ir for them too
Yes: her husband WAS employees in
the suburb. ANA his employer depend
ed upon and must have local business
in order to provide work and none,
for his help.
Admitted Sire Odd Wrong.
Yes. she now. for the first iiinc. real
lied that she wa> doing herself. her
children. her husband and above nll.
the home mere hant IL grave wrong
by sending her husbands earnings to
an out Of town competitor. but she
would never do it again.
The world is full of just such wo-
men as described above. They do not
think or understand. but when they
do no power on earth will swerve them
from their sense Of right and duty.
Then let us change all this and get
together. 1t is only right and honora-
BILE and just to ourselves and high time
to rcform-to adopt the buying at home
system Of everything we need.
Even II some Of the neighbors have
not yet learned that they owe a duty
to their town 1t cannot be said that
their case Is hopeless. for we can set
them a good example.
We can show by action that we will
never be a party to putting the local
merchant out Of business through lack
Of patronage.
Do You know Of one single mail Or
der house that has ever spent a dollar
In your community?
About $4,000 industries Of one kind