The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-16
1.-THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE STATE.

'FTbe question chosen for debate among thc
high @}ooig of lhr state by the university is: Re
solved that the patr0lagc VI mail order houses
IN detrimental 10 he best interests " the state oi
North Uak0ta,' We would Ike ~ know what. in
your opinion, is meant by the term: The best IN
fctests Of the state n Aorth Uakoiai Ajso will
you give ~ your idea Of what the value of the small
town il 10 the average North Dakota community?
We uphold the affirmative u the question, and II
you could give ~ any points or information on the
question, il viii be greatly appreciated"
This letter comes from pupils u the LanydoD
public schools.
"Thc bert interests u the state Of North Da-
kotaY'
Well, The Tribune would gay that the best
interests Of the atatn of North Dakota are the wei
fare OF it's people, their prosperity, progress and
c~ontcntment. The stale Of North Dakota ~ not
80 much a political or geographical division as an
economic community. Simmercd down, the state OF
North Dakota ~ juHt plain folks. The best inter
csts Of the state are the beat interests of those
people who make their home within it's borders.
Whit does the small town DO for these peopIcY
For one thing, il offers them a convenient mar,
kct; Il place where they may dispose Of their prod
ucts and where they may buy ncccssarjcg which the
farm does not produce. II offers society and com,
partnership. II brings closer 10 the farm some Of
LHc UcUtULb LHhL cVll/dllOu HiS DFOIIccI. ~ o.
fcrs the farmer a safe place in which 10 bank his
money, and it serves 10 accumulate and Iiquify the
idle funds OF the community which may be loaned
the farmer who desires TO put it at work.
"Scrvicc' is the one excuse FOR the existence
Of the small town. And there are very few towns
which do not fulfil their destiny. The small town
merchant extends credit when credit IL needed. not
the big city mail order house or department store.
u IL he who attends TO [urry,np demands for pro-
VISIONS, supplies or repair parts. lie is expected
to tic up his money in things the community IA
need and that he MAY be able to DISPOSE Of At Il
profit.
That there is waste and cxtravagancc in small
town merchandising is due principally to the patrons
who control the system. The average customer is
careless as to his credits. When his merchant ear.
ries him 30 to 60 days, or even six months, as often
is the case, that merchant is not placed in a posi-,
ton where nc can pay cash or take advantage Of
discounts. Therefore, he cannot sell as chcapIy as
his big city competitors who buy for cash and sell
for cash, and have fewer accounts to be charged
to profit and loss. Country merchandising will inn
prove just so rapidly as the average country buyer
learns to place his affairs on a business basis.
The country town is an absolute necessity TO
the farmer.
Without its elevators, it's stores, it's banks, it's
doctors, its hundred and one accommodations the
farmer would suffer an isolation here in North Da-
k0ta which no one would like to contemplate. And
the greater tho growth Of the country town and it's
success and prosperity, the greater the %accommoda-
ton which it can extend it's farmer community; the
more money it will have to assist in the financing
OF his crops and the building Of better roads and
the extension OF telephone lines and rural routes
and the Improvement Of freight and passenger
service. ... :,
Yes, North Dakota needs all the country towns
it has, and it can use more of them.