Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-11
THE ITTNERAET.
[MuscatiHe Journal

| MuscatlEe JournaLl
Fort Madison has declared war upon
! the itinerant salesman. The munich
| pality frowns upon book agents. can
| vassers and peddlers. The new motto
Of the mayor as we'll as the housewife
| Is Here's your hat, what's your
! hurry" Some time ago a committee OF
| business men made an investigation as
j TO the extent Of the house to house
canyassing and its cost to the COM
munity. Their discovery was a revela-
! ton to every business man and house
| wife as well. a realization of the COM
| munity loss thru the flood Of silver
| which poured from the city. thru the
channel OF the amiabIe canvasser
proved 10 be the greatest argument in
| support of the Buy at Home" move
| ment. Fort Madison was also inflicted
| by the usual number OF 'neighborhood
| clubs" in which the women banded
! themselves together with view OF
promoting the trade of some mail or
| der concern and incidentally earning n
rug or some other article Of furniture.
| These have passed out of existence
| also.
! Mayor Brown recently announced a
! decision that he would refuse to issue
! license to itinerants selling a COM
| modify in competition with the local
stores. His stand is one which is COM
mandatory. The retailer has right to
| expect the city to extend him this
| measure of protection.
! Muscatine women only recently
shared in the effects Of dealing with
a shady book concern. Police officials
estimate that several hundred dollars
| was removed from circulation here by
| the participation Of Muscatine women
/ in this one proposition. The house,
| wife who falls a victim of some can
vassing offer does not advertise her er-
| ror, hence it IS but seldom that the ef-
! fects Of the frauds practiced upon
| Friend wife" become public.
The action of the Fort Madison
mayor, and the support given him by
! the housewives is worthy of emula-
] ton in Muscatine. No Aep would in
cure community prosperity in so rich a
degree.
INCREASE OF CREDIT BUSINESS.
| Dubuque Times-JournaL]
| A grocer was talking the other day
about the difficulties and expenses OF
his business. He said his losses from
bad credits are not! at all serious. He
had on his books at the present time
but two customers whose accounts he
was unlikely to collect. They were OF
the kind that decamp over night, and
find it cheaper to move than pay rent
or tradesmen's bills.
He said that the increasing ten
dency Of the public to do business OF
credit is far more serious problem
} The number Of people who come to his
, store and pay cash and carry the stun
away is declining. The great bulk OF
his trade runs up bills that are paic
once in one, two. three or more
. months. 1t takes a growing a1nonn'
Of capital to finance ali this business
AT the end of month he often nnoi
it serious matter to tide over MI
obligations until the next months pay
ments begin to come in. q
This involves a heavy charge To-
interest on loans. No longer can NJ
do business on his own capital pu
he must call on the banks or otner'
Tor assistance. Is Is 81. :. - the *
: pense Of running his busiress "a
: competitors, he believed must ALSO de