Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1917-12-27
CASH AND CARRY


customers, is quite likely to fail of
noterialization While a couple of
hnpdred south Idaho grocers, at meet
me held in Pocatello, voted to 60 on
.be leash and carry basis on January
a number of the grocers, after think.
ing the matter over, decided the system
would be impractical, and seeded from
.he movement, says Pocatello paper.
II is limited that Administrator Bick-
nell will try to put the plan in force
in northern Idaho, as a "war
measure,' and if he attempts this it is
nrobable that his efforts will meet with
stern opposition, for his plan cannot
here be carried out successfully. It
would work tremendous hardships on a
large number of consumers, especially in
the farming districts, where income is
received but once year, at which time
an obligations to merchants are when
possible promptly and fully met.
Mr.. Bicknell would in moment
disrupt organized mercantile business
throughout the state by suddenly max
ing extraordinary demands on the mer-
chant and on the consumer. His
thought he says, is, that, were every
person to pay cash Tor his purchases,
bad accounts would not be. encountered
by the merchant, and in turn the mer-
chant would be able to reduce the price
of his goods, because there would be
no losses to meet through failure of
some persons to pay for what they had
bought
Grangeville merchants have one price
for their goods, whether they are sold
for cash or on credit. 1t is not the
policy of a merchant to grant credit
unless he knows that the person who
buys on credit will eventually pay for
his purchases. The merchant who has
two prices, either sells goods at "A loss
to the cash customer or robs the man
who buys on credit.
Also, Mr.. Bicknell says that the sys
TEN of free delivery in towns should be
eliminated, for the purchaser must in
reality bear the cost of the free deliv-
cry. Mr.. Bicknell urges that the Gus
toner appear at the store and carry the
goods home with him. 1t has been
inquired, by Il man fond of statistics,
that the average cost of grocery delivery
service to a family using $50 worth of
groceries month is only 50 cents,
which amount, of course, is borne by
the consumer, just the same as the con
sumner pays freight charges on goods
ne purchases, pays clerk hire in the
store, pays rent on the store, travelling
salesman s salaries, and all costs con
hected with production and distribu.
tlOn of the goods he uses.
Would any man who is the head of
household be willing to stop in the
MIDST OF his work, go to his grocer,
shoulder sack of sugar or flour and
carry 1t ten or more blocks to his home
II not, he no doubt would be obliged to
pay drayman so cents to haul the
ioad nome for him. This would be
economy, wouldn t ita Or, would it be
wiser Tor him to contribute his 80
tents month, along with the other
patrons of his grocer, and have ALL
uis purchases promptly hauled to his
hOme9
III Idaho county live some farmers
VINO during the last year because of
'He dranght, raised poor crops and
aau scarcely enough grain to care for
Oqunements on the farm. They had
'0'ning to sell, in order to procure ready
money yet these, ranchers and THEN
,""liieS must live. Are they to be
''''icd food by our merchants, simply |
'ecause they do not have the cash with |
'D'eh TO pay for their purchases These
: ''A are as good as gold. But because
"eS 40 not possess spot cash, shall they
.ohipeled to mortgage their farms, !
: N ease of renter, his livestock,
U'uer TO keep from starving2 Or
-. the grocer provided them with
ordinary wants and receive his
ny, when the farmer is able to paw? |
-; 'n the nation is crying for wheat to
=" 'ne war, would it be fair for the
~ ,'"aht to handicap the farmer who
-, 0n'e money by demanding spot
s-,1 1 iof ms goods, when the farmer had
.o.o 10 using the money for the pur-
~ u materials and the hire of labor
'rOpl VI '"'s e'