The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-01-24

CONTINUED from page one.)
ton make it. If we all as individuals
take enough interest in our own affairs
to become members of our association,
what would the possibilities for bet
tering the trade be? If every legiti-
mate dealer in this state paid his dues
and became a member what a front
we could present on any problem, if
we were united as we should be. It is
our duty as implement leaders to
unite in this movement. 1t is also a
duty we owe to the community we
serve, for our aims and purposes are
out beyond any personal gains, while
our work may mean personal gain to
every implement dealer yet, it means
more. 1t means that we will all be in
better position to serve the trade
tributary to u.s. as well as serve it
better, for in guarding over our own
interests, we are also guarding the in
terests Of the farmers. our customers,
and the dealer or merchant is entitled
to trade only In proportion as he
serves his community.
Dealer and Local Conditions.
This is very broad subject, but /
am glad that the influences at work
are having the effect of breaking down
many old customs of the individual.
The time was when a dealer thought
1t was legitimate and good business
to be a pirate. BY being a pirate, l
mean when he got out OF his own ter
ritory, he would make prices and
terms that were ruinous. did he apply
them to his trade in general? am
glad to know that those conditions are
much improved in general. am pleas
ed to tell you that the golden rule
applies to business. Do unto others as
you would that they should do unto
you, not do the other fellow first The
other fellow is just as smart as / am
and can come back. The individual
dealers personal influence In the To-
cal club, and his attitude toward his
neighbor.
do not know of any phase of the
business this touches so close as where
some of the manufacturers and job
bers get too anxious to get their goods
on the market. that they forget the
question whether there is room for
another house in the community,
whether there is a chance for the man
they are selling, making q success or
not. You will remember the story of
the man that went from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and fell among thieves who
beat him up and took all he had, and
left him by the wayside as dead. Now,
this may be a little strong, but don't
you think this is the attitude Of a
good many wholesale firms who find
man without any business expert
ence. but some money at his COM
mand, and induce him to enter the
implement business knowing that he
has about one chance in twenty for
success? In doing so they usually are
the means Of demoralizing the trade
in that community, for the new man
has no idea Of the cost of doing bust
ness, and he is generally led to be-
lieve that every dollar he gets above
the wholesalers price is good clean
profit. Unless we as an association
cam prevail upon manufacturers 10
desist from this rIIinous practice. we
will have to do something to protect
ourselves, and, as see it. the surest
and best protection we have is our
local club organizations. II every COM
munity Of dealers, (say by counties,
If possible) was bound together in a
local club they would be in a position
to take the new dealer by the hand
and get acquainted with him and show
him that they were his friends. and
that their success to an extent de-
pended on his business: that while
business is competitive. 1t should not
be competitive to the extent Of elimin-