Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-07-05

l
of us will be serving in that great
army which achieves the welfare Of
the world.
a Dollar Lost.
1t should be the slogan of every
rural or city consumer never to send
away for goods that he can just as
we'll buy at home. Every time you
send a dollar to an out-ofItown deal
er, as far as you and your community
are concerned, it is practically out
of circulation.
Your own home merchant is the
one who helps to keep up your
schools, your churches and your
town. He is the one who deserves
your trade and not some catalogue
house in Chicago or elsewhere.
Goods on Unsecured Promises.
When you have nothing to give
in exchange, to whom do you go for
Accommodations until some uncertain
time when you can pay?
Do you not always find your home
merchant ready and willing to let his
goods go on promises, not guaranteed
notes, but verbal promises, trusting
to your honesty and good luck in
meeting the obligation later?
How many farms and homes have
been paid for by merchants advanc-
ing both the goods necessary to keep
life in the body and cash to meet the
dreaded interest on the mortgage?
Under the same conditions would
the benefactor trust the merchant for
months and months with the produce
of his farm or labor, or would he ask
for cash or its equivalent upon de-
livery.
Not Robber or Cheat.
We know that the average con-
Isumer does not feel that his local
merchant is robber Or cheat; but,
like all humankind, the catalogues
peal to him, and he forwards his or
der and cash without considering the
injustice he is doing himself, his
merchant and his home town.
The catalogues of the mail order
house are illuminated with pictures
to catch the eye of the unwary. They
range in complexion from brunette
banana to a blond canary bird. They
offer to sell you anything from a
philosophers stone to a cypress shin
gle sawed out Of a sunbeam.
Cash Versus Credit.
1t seems unbelievable, but it is
nevertheless a fact, showing the en-
tire lack of any sense of justice, that
many people regard their local stores
as merely institutions of accomoda-
ton. When these people have cash
! 10 spend it goes to the faraway or
nearby mail order houses, but when
: out Of work or during the season
. when farmers are not turning their
produce into cash, or the city employe
is marked off the pay role, what dc
9 they do? Do they write to the cata
r logue housa and ask for credit?
;. II they df do you think they
v would get ito Not on your life!
= Those concerns must have cash, mus
}. have it in adval'e, must have it be.
3 fore you can even get the goods you
" buy. The consume, sends his mo
y ney and then sits town and waits
s until they get good all ready to fill
It his order.
s But when home people want cred
70 it or favors of any kind tiey hustle
q off to their home merchah, yer,
y. obligingly order what they WAIT anc
y tell him to charge it, expecting hin
!. to wait at least from one to 81,
~ months for his pay.
S. Dealing With NeighbOrs.
If In buying from your home me
Is chants you deal with neighbors. Blu
a with goods before you. Pay when yo
r get the goods il you so elect. HAY
'r goods delivered free. Return gor>.
u IL not satisfactory. Build up yot
A home store and business.
v, Help build up your own home tow
ID and make of yourself man worth
.. of your day and time: Every ma
20 should take pride In being goo
American citizen, and We belie'
GO most men do and that most men ar
. or at least desire to be. but what XIII
of citizen is the man who supper
- an octopus? Should he not be place
e. in class with the man that knocl
If his own business? That sort of mi
Is, is usually neither a good neighb
IS. nor a good citizen.
TT