The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1915-01-22
OUR NATIONAL CURSE.
Every nation has its curse.

| ouIS ID GIt ONcIWOIkSu CIeulS SJS-
TEN as applied to ordinary expendi-
lures of life, and especially to the Ia
BILE.
Ii every business and professional
man in this community were asked
az to whether he would rather sell
for cash at considerable discount in
price, or continue the credit system,
we believe the vote would be urani-
nous in favor Of cash and reduced
profits. 0... ...
The. credit system is nuisance. 1t
is national curse--a community
curse, if you please. '....
Wherever. the. credit system pre-
walls, there you. will. find the usual
number Of sloW-psys and genuine
deadbeats.
The merchant pays for his goods,
and in turn some one must pay him.
He cannot live on wind, hope or ex-
pectations. 1t is case Of mo cash,
no, live"
Every merchant who extends credit
gets taken in by the deadheads. He
loses not only his profits, but the
cost OF his goods as well.
And what then does he do? Just
what you or any. other sensible per
son would do--raises the prices sutt-
ciently on, his wares. to protect him
against such. losses. And the man
who pays his own bills also pays those
Of the deadbeat.
If person can pay at the end I Of
every thirty days it would require
but little retrenehment and sacrifice
to enable him to reach the point
where can pay cash where he goes.
When merchant carries your ac-
count he virtually lends you his. money
and this shauld not be. The bank is
the proper place for such transactions.
BY payingrc for his goods the
dealer can get a substantial discount
from the wholesaler,!an this discount
coupled with. the saving Of the usual
deadbeat losses, would make q mater
ial reduction in the cost Of supplies.
But he can hardly stand the strain Of
cash transaction himself while he is
extending from thirty to ninety days
credit to Dick, Tom and Harry and
all Of the little Harrys.
Prices are high. in. this community,
but conditions are no worse here than
they are in other sections Of the conn
try. The wall is heard In every city
and hamlet, and the volume is sI-
ceeding great.
"Give US relief" is the cry.
"Give yourself relief" We say.
To great extent the. remedy is in.
your own hands. \.
Some Of you are welded to the mail
order habit because, you get q cent or
two OF here and there-but you pay
it back in the freight.
Is your credit good with the mail
ooder concern? Not in thousand
years.
DO you hand over your cash yefore
you get your goods? You bet-eyery
time-and you keep what you get,
whether it stings or not.
You expect your: home merchant,
who extends you credit and carries
your account indefinitely, to make
the same'price on goods he guaran-
tees that .thesmail order man makes
on goods he does,not guarantee, and
for which he demands his pound Of
| flesh in advance.
Is this fair? Is it just to the home
merchant, or even to yourself?
Now why can't the people .of! this
community get together with the
tradesmen and inaugurate strictly
cash system in every line of business?
Why can't we stamp out the credit
curse? 1t is simply a breeder of high
prices, in which everybody suffers.
| Buying for cash would mean more
| goods for your money, less worry, and
better community generally.
And the deadbeat would then have
to pay. for his. keep.
| Why say you, brother? These col
umns are open to you for reply.
4 l.