The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1915-05-13

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should be protected. Thecommui.
/ ty needs his wares as much as he
needs the community's cash.
But not every small town mer-
chant is alive to his opportunities
and his obligations. Many ofthem
fall by the wayside because Of their
ignorance Of or indifference to the
rights of the public.
Fifty years ago the town merchant
sat in his store and waited for bias
mess to come to him.
Today the successful merchant
! is hunter-he must 60 out gun
ming for customers-and his am
munition is his stock in trade and
his gun is the local newspaper.
Country people Of today are as
intelligent and up to date as their
city cousins, and they gauge the
merchant by his own actions.
If he is a hustler, if he keeps his
store clean, his goods neatly dis
played, his advertisement running
regularly in the local paper-he at
tracts the public eye, and the pub
lie follows its eye.
But a clean store, neatly dis
played goods and newspaper adver-
ltising are not the only requisites to
a successful mercantile career. The
country merchant should not bank
too much ON the fact that he is a
necessity. He should be progress
sive, constantly bidding for trade.
devising means Of lettering the
condition of the consumers, and
acquainting them Of the fact. He
should consider their welfare, as
we'll as his own. The merchant
should have one iron creed, and
that creed should never be broken:
He should treat all customers alike,
never misrepresent his goods, and
keep his shelves we'll stocked with
truth. He should be considerate
Of other business men in the COM
munity, for their rights are as great
as his own. They do not own the
town, and neither does he. He
should join intellectually in
movements for building up and ex-
pending the business interests Of
the community, for success is only
found on the topmost rounds Of the
ladder.
The merchant who has built up a
reputation as a public spirited man
as one who labors for the well being
of the whole community, never
lacks for customers at his store.
They migrate toward his door as
naturally as the birds fly south in
winter. Such merchants gain the
confidence Of the people, for the
people know that the same intelli-
gence and fair mindedness which
he exerts in behalf Of the communi-
Fly will be extended to his customers
in commercial life.
Most country towns have a few
such merchants in their midst, and
the community is the Setter off for
their presence.
You invariably find their adver-
tisements in thelocal papers, telling
Of the merits of their wares they
have to sell, and giving the people
that information to which they are
clearly entitled. Such business
men are successful, because their
methods of business and their very
attitude breathe success. They
have many customers, because the
people admire a hustler.
This town is located in a splendid
community and it should have a
bright future ahead Of it. But it
depends upon us alone. We haye
some good business men in this
town. They are well supplied with
brains, ind those brains are capable
of accomplishing great results. In
dividually, they can do much, but
collectively, they can revolutionize
trading conditions Of this communi-
ty.