The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1915-03-12
SIGNS OF The TIMES


the prosperity so much spoken
Of in Washington seems TO be an
assured fact. Another method |
Of asceriaining conditions is by |
personal inquiry, but here again
optimistic opinion seems to pre-
vail.
Certain lines Of endeavOr no |
doubt feel. more heavily than the
others, the sharp change i'm cOndi-
lions brought about by the Euro
pean contentious. But, on the
other hand, this depression is
more than Offset by the abnor-
NAL activity Of otherwise mac
tive industries.
The mental stimulus that is
caused by sharp reactions is a
blessing in disguise to our bus
mess man who as rule prefers
10 follow the lines OF least res ISL
ence. Salesmanship had come
To be negligible quantity. The
small merchant depended too
much on the pulling power of ihe
Manufacturers or jobber's adj
vertising. On the other hand.
the wholesaler. seeking TO estah-
lish a market for his goods, over
looked the dealer who is his act
ual salesman. The slogan OF
merchandising had become guam
tiiy and price rather than quail
fly and service. It was sought
to have The goods bought rather
than sold.
The forced economy NOW pre-
yailing will have a salient effect
on this method Of business pro-
cedure. In fact the effect is al
ready in operation, as the small
merchants today are carrying
only the stocks they require and
adding to them only what in their
Judgment is absolutely necessary
This is true merchandising. Our
tradesman is not being over sold
therefore he is not prone to con-
tinue the extravaganees that were
ecessary TO push the sale of sur
plus stocks With these extra
vagances eliminated more thought
can be accorded the ultimate con-
sumner, thus educating the mer-
chant in selling what is wanted
and not what he has TO get rio
of. This also means removing
the temptation for wastefulness
from the general public which
furthers the education in econ
omy that we are so much I'm need
of. II we intend to promote ouI
exports in merchandise there
fundamental lessons are needfu
to our campaign.
Again the furiherance Of these
economies will promote saving
and the development of this vir-
tue will lead 10 a renewal of in
yestments that will add immeas-
urably TO the promotion of oui
industries and utilities. Here
again foreign trade will be bene-
fitted as we'll as home efforts, a.
commerce naturally follows
where Industrial activities ar,
supported.
The unemployment o. labor
which last fall was a matter foi
serious consideration. today i.
almost a negligible quantity. II
most sections of the country /
is reported as only a little undel
normal and in the past few week
the opening up Of plants tha
have been idle Cor some time add
still further encouragement TIL
outlook for the return OF full
prosperity to the workingmaI
seems nearest Of realization.
With economy installed as Al
integral part of business man
agement. extravaganza ehmin
ated: proper selling methods in
slilled into the merchant; th
saving habit cultivated by tn
masses; investment OppOrtunitie
being sought by the thrifty; cred
its extended by the banker Onl
after careful study of their need
and the full dinner pail practic
ally restored. the United State
of America should look fOrwar
with smiling cOuntenance on tn
conquesls il has before il. No
eonquests Of flesh and blood. bu
conquests Of service to MANKIND
the promotion Of trade. which
the harbinger Of fellow feeling
Where men trade. men live Wher
men live. men love. Where me
love, peace reigns supreme.