The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-05-25
BIG VICTORY OF LOCAL DEALERS
How One Iowa Town Checked Catalogue Houses
Began By Refusing Credit

Business Unable to FIND Market ror
Wares.
copyrighted. 1914. by Thomas ]. Sullivan
1t is not victory that makes the JOY
Of noble hearts, but the combat The
greater the obstacle the more glory in
overcoming it and difficulties are but
the maids of honor to set Off the virtue.
The effects Of competition are won
derful. There are men who rise re-
freshed on hearing of threat-meD to
whom a crisis which intimidates and
paralyzes the majority comes graceful
and beloved as a bride. Competition
inhames the enthusiast and drives him
on to action.
The Making of Men.
1t is not ease, but effort; not facility,
but difficulty. that makes men. There
is perhaps no station In life in which
difficulties have not been encountered
and overcome before any decided
measure % success was achieved
Recognizing the retail catalogue
house as a worthy foe, competitor.
the local retail merchant. in preparing
for battle must take an inventory Of
his many advantages over the mail or
der house.
First and foremost, he is always
working among friends and acquaint.
ances. The mail order house must al
ways work as stranger.
Did any one ever suggest to him be-
fore that perhaps he neglected or over
looked many things important to bust
ness success2
An Iowa cure For Bad Habit.
am not an adept at suggestions, so
will refrain from making any. but will
tell of plan that worked out success.
fully in an Iowa town.
The merchants of that town were be-
ing imposed upon by mail order buyers
and organized for their own protection
and determined to cancel all favors
and credit heretofore extended to those
offending citizens.
1t developed that the first applicant
was lady who had recently purchased
a sewing machine from catalogue
house. Her daughter was about to be
married. and she wished to present her
with parlor set as present and, find.
ing her husband short of ready money,
asked credit from the local dealer.
The Dealer Politely Declined.
The dealer politely declined, advising
that no doubt the mail order house of
Chicago from which she purchased her
sewing machine would be most happy
to extend to her the desired credit.
The good lady, somewhat perturbed,
hurried over to the other furniture
dealer. Here she met with the same
suggestion. IL am sure the mail order
house viii grant you all the time you
ask" said the merchant
The lady knew different. though, for
she had read the catalogue and remem-
bered 1t said Cash in advance"
Mail Order House Doesn't Buy Zoos
When Mrs. Farmer, who had offend
ed, came to town with butter and eggs
the grocer said: "Really, Mrs. Farmer,
the butter is fine, and the eggs are
fresh, but | am not needing any today.
l would suggest, though. that you send
them to Chicago mail order house.
1t will doubtless be delighted to receive
them in exchange for another box of
groceries such as you purchased from
it last week"
Mrs. Farmer Strengthened herself up,
gave the merchant look which meant
that there were more groceries in town
and started out to find them.
She did. and they gave her the same
advice she received at the first place.
The Turn About Game.
Farmer independent drove a load
Of corn to town and was offered about
5 cents less than the market price. He
protested. The grain man suggested
that maybe the mail order house OF
Chicago would be glad to have the
corn at the market price.
The implement man referred the man
with the secondhand machine to a
Chicago catalogue house. remarking
that 1t made a speciality
Of taking old goods in trade.
The dry goods and clothing men
quoted their stifrest prices and refused
credit. and the hardware man sent
home empty handed the small son of a
catalogue house patron who mad asked
FOR some tools and nails.
An Outcome Pleasing to All.
The merchants all stood firm. Credit
and favors were withheld from all mail
order house patrons.
The victims FIRST became indignant,
put In the course OF time came to see
he Injustice they were doing their
home merchants and home town, ana
loon they began to apologize and az
their error and promised in
he future to confine their purchases
o their home institutions.
"compstition Was Helpful"