The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-03-17
AN OPEN LETTER
TO WOMEN OF WEST
Martha Spangler Tells
of Observance of
Western Consurn-
ers' Week


was started by the women of the
west six years ago-is to educate
and reawaken our home people so
that they will show by precept and
practice that they believe in the en-
of home industry
and the development of the princi-
pies for which every loyal citizen
stands-the upbuilding of his home
community. This means loyalty to
home manufacturers and the pur-
chase of goods in your home town,
your home state or the west.
For three years the governors of
Washington. Oregon. Idaho, Mon
tana. Nevada and Utah have issued
proclamatiohs calling on their con-
stituents to observe Western Con-
sumers' Week." the presidents Of the
state declarations of women's clubs
OF these states have sent the same
message to their club members, the
commercial clubs have participated
in the observance, enterprising mer-
chants have displayed western-made
articles, and best of all, the women
of these states-the buyers-have
demonstrated their power and or,
ganization by asking for and buying
the goods bearing the western
brands.
AS result of this intensive cam
paign by the women of the west
literally millions of dollars have been
spent with wettern manufacturers
that otherwise would have gone east
of the Mississippi river. The money
thus spent at home has been respent
by the manufacturers for labor, new
buildings-and consequently more
and so on in cycle that has brought
prosperity to the west.
This year the observance is.
planned on larger scale than ever.
before. Wyoming, Colorado, New
Mexico, Arizona and California have
joined and the intention is to make
this one big, general observance for
the Great West.
The whole theory of Western
Cons liners Week" is summed up III
the following extract from the prock
lamation issued by Governor Emmett
B. Boyle of Nevada in 1916:
ALL of our citizens are urged to
assist in the upbuilding of our state
and the great undeveloped west of
which Nevada is part, by a general
exhibition of loyalty to our home
products.
Throughout Western Consumers
Week merchants are requested to
emphasize the display of local raw
and manufactured products, and con-
sumers are urged to purchase as far
as possible only these products, Civ
ing preference in the order named
to
"First-The products of the home
town.
"Second-The products of the
state.
"Third-The products of the wes-
tern states"
The governors of the other states
mentioned issued similar proclama-
tions. &
The movement has been fostered
since it's inception six years ago by
The New West Magazine, and it is
with pardonable pride we point to
its present proportions, realizing full
ly that this growth and success has
been due to the united efforts of the
earnest women of the west.
This year the women of each COM
munity are asked to join with the
local commercial club wherever pos
sible in preparing a program for the
observance of western Consumers
Week" The local newspapers will
also be found a powerful factor in
advancing this movement, and your
editor will always be ready to CO.
operate with you. This trinity-the
womens club, the commercial club
and the local paper-is all-powerful
when united for the upbuilding of
the home community.
From past experience this maya
zine favors the exhibition of goods in
the stores where they are sold, for
the retailer will sell more goods that
week if he advertises by special DIS
plays in the windows and inside the
store, where the housewife may see
them when shopping. Then the re-
taller, to get ready for this week, will
order ahead from the wholesaler.
Knowing the club women Of his
town will ask for western products
that week, he wants to be alive and
have a good display to show his 10y
atty to home institutions. The
wholesaler will also have to get bu-
sy and see that the western goods he
handles are in the retail stores that
week. The manufacturer must aa.