The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-03-17
Wrote Large Retail Mail Order House
Condemning Methods and Urg-
ing Home Trade
WOULD RUIN SMALL CITIES
Believes That By Paying Cash to
Merchants, Premiums, Money and
Time is Saved-Recognizes Signs


ton going to the consumer, argl-
,ments showing that the so called
middleman is an unnecessary part
of the machinery used in the dis
trihution OF merchandise. 1t is al
so generally felt that the consumer
does not think deeply on the sub
ject and is, not inclined to go into
the after effects of continual mail
order dealing.
Out in Kansas there Is at least
one woman who thought about the
matter and who has written a letter
that is worth reading by every re-
taller. More than that it is a let
ter that should be copied in every
local newspaper in the country that
reaches people who are inclined to-
ward mail order buying.
The woman wrote to one of the
big retail mail order houses as fol-
lows:
A Kansas Woman's Letter
"Referring to the subject of Home
Loyalty which you call 'bogie,'
held up by loyal merchants. You
suggest that it would be better for
me to send my money to mail-order
houses and keep the retailers. pro-
fit myself than to buy goods at home
and let out home stores make the
profit.
Your essential promise is that
you sell to me at the same price
which the local retailer pays at
wholesale. This is vital point
which I am not yet ready to concede,
except for the sake of argument:
But assuming your premise to be
correct, has it ever occurred to you
what the consequence would he if
myself and all my neighborsout in
the smaller towns should begin to
send their money to the mail-order
houses, in order to keep the profit for
themselves? Let us suppose that.
my husband clerks in the store.
Mrs. Smiths husband drives
the delivery wagon.
Mrs. Browns husband is cash
Ter in the local bank.
Mrs. Jones husband teaches
the village school,
Mrs. Whites husbands breaches
in the village church.
and we all stop trading at home
Suppose all the rest of the women
did the same. What is good for
one is good for all. What would he
the result?
The Consequence.
First the stores would close up.
"My husband would lose his job.
We would have to move-probably to
some big city.
MRS. Smiths husband would lose
his job and they would move away
"TNhe stores being closed and To-
cal business being suspended, the
bank would be driven into liquida-
tion and Mrs. Browns husband
would lose his job, and move.
Cali the families in town having
been driven away. the school would
of course close up and Mrs. Jones'
chor Nd
1.-THE church would die and Mrs
Whites husband would be out hunt
ing for new pastorate.
The Next Result
"And we women, by organizing
our Larkin clubs, and by distributing
out Montgomery Ward catalogues
have practically discharged our owr
husbands, and separated ourselve:
and our children from our bread ant
butter. The small town would b.
dead. We would have to go to tn
farm or the big city in order to ex
list.
"Of course I realize, as you ais
realize, that such condition is no
likely to come to pass-but this i
not your fault. Your policy, if car
ried out to it's logical end, woul,
mean just this.
would it help me much to 'sav
the profits at such cost
''lour claim that the prices quo
ted in your catalogue are the sam
the local merchant pays at wholesal
is not we'll founded.
Some Real Facts.
"Furt hermoe, I am inclined t,
believe from inquiries I have mad
that I could go to our home store
and by buying in $40 lots, payin
cash, and taking the goods HON
with me, could save enough out q
$40 order to duplicate the prem
iums you offer, considering the COS
of shipping and delivery of good
from Peoria. Besides I would b
buying at home, save several week
of waiting, avoid the risk of della
and loss and would know in adyane
by personal examination just whs
am getting.
Referring again to the matte