The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1917-09-20
LOCAL MERCHANT
A BENEFACTOR
A Good Citizen and a Friend
In Need.
HONEST MEN GIVEN CREDIT.

President-The Local Retail Mcr-
chant IL without Question the Com
munity's Most Prominent Factor.
Aids Farmer by Buying From Him.
;copyrirhtcd. igli. by Thomas ). sullivan.l
would uthcr be right than prcsi- |
dent is the principle followed by many !
r,.,l aorrhauts
. There Is mo- ripht without parallel
duty. no liberty without the supremacy
of the law. no high destiny without
earnest perseverance. no greatness
without self denial.
As "a dispenser of important services
IN any town none compares with the
retail merchant.
Perhaps the nrst benefit of 'mpor
lance IL the endless accommodations
which he extends his customers. His
books show that where misfortune.
sickness ar loss OF occupation over
takes his customers he IL frequently
obliged 90 carry them FOR many months.
Honest Men Get Credit.
The man who has not established a
reputation for unrcliablllty or dishon-
esty IL reasonably sure OF securing
credit for the asking. Aud the extcn-
sion OF credit IN equivalent 10 making
loans without interest. And who would
ask or expect any such favor OF any
one but merchant or very close ana
dear friendf
The local town to be a desirable
Mace 10 live In must have police ana
Ore protection. Il must have bridges.
improved streets. wnter. sewers ana
good schools To secure these neces'
sary improvements and 20 maintain
them taxes must be levied. Tile local
merchant pays large share OF the
taxes.
Among other things. the local mer'
chant Is continually forced 20 contrib
ute 10 an manner OF charitable enter
prlses. both public and private. lie II
/ the local benefactor. inasmuch us he iS
the employer of labor. Numerous
young men and women lind employ
ment In his store. aud as the result OF
his Investment aud efforts many dol
lars mud their way to the pocket OF the
Doctor. the dentist. the editor. the
druggist and the banker. all 81 which
contributes 10 the socal and financial
prosperity OF the community.
Faith In the Community.
lie aids the farmer by buying fron
him his products to the extent OF hi'
needs. thus Increasing the profits ol
the farmer
He has shown his faith Ia the com
munity by investing his capital there
consequently his interests center there
upon him, Ia a measure. depends tn
social. religious. educational and com
merciil existence Of the Town, and h'
is ever willing TO do his part
All this being true, why Is he not en-
titled 10 the same amount of consld
Grafton as that exacted by the farmer
the wage Garner aud the other factor
OF the community that are always cry
ing Tor "fair treatment" and the righ
TO liver
Destroying Local Markets.
An he asks IN that which Is rightfuli
his-the opportunity 20 display hi
goods anu cohllHfc Pti'eH WIN ''"'
, shown In the misrepresented ''pictur
albums" OF the catalogue houses De
} fore you send your money away froi
. home 10 buy something of the sam
. quality which he can sell just as cheal
ly as does the big city merchant prince
Take away from the community Oh
: OF the most important elements
. prosperity. the medium OF exchang'
. and the effect Is ineyitable-a weaker
ing of.the organism. Aud that Is pr
cisely what the great mail order r
. tail houses are doing. They are hlee'
. ing the local Communities. They al
. destroying local markets. weakenlr
local credits reducing the volume
deposits Ia small local banks, staryh
out local business men who are col
sumers Of farm products as well
dealers. driving 10 the large citi'
thousands Of consumers who can
longer fnd employment in sma
-. towns. ana the mon who are aidh
- them In their work OF destruction vi
soon pas the pcualty IN the shrinkai
Of the value Of their property, as ws
y - =.