Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-01
Keep nichmoud Money in niclrmond

Keep hlctnond Money iii lsiclimond
IN inviting closer cooperation between
local retailers and manufacturers, the
Chamber of Commerce is doing a const rue
tive work for Richmond, which, if pressed
vigorously and met with the response it
merits, will result in more and larger fac
tories, which, in turn, mean more employees
and another step toward that 100000 popu-
lation goal in the 1880 census. A prophet
is not without honor, save in his own coun-
try. and the same is too largely true of
locally made products. The Made-n- Rich
mond Exposition did much to remove that
.rcproach from this city but the campaign
az educating, retailers to patronize home
production is still in it's ncipiency.
There exists no reason why Richmond
products, price and quality being equal to
those made abroad, should not be given
preference in Richmond. Neither is there
any reason why the local salesman should
not be greeted with handclasp as warm
and smile as broad as those accorded one
from some Northern Western city. Rich
n,ond- made goods sell freely in every State
OF the union. and in every civilized country
on the face OF the earth. They sell at home.
too. hut not in the quantity the demand
would seem to justify. Rchmond's retail
merchants are among its most progressive,
loya! citizens, alert to promote the growth,
and when they come to realize fully what
the expenditure of Richmond dollars for
Richmond goods means, they will adopt
that policy in so far as it is consonant with
sound business.
But the chambers buy-at-home campaign
should not end with retailer and manufac-
t:rer. 1t should be expanded to take in the
consumer. Richmond's retail merchants
can and do present as many bargains as
can be found in any out-of-town establish
mcnt The Richmonders who have a few
dollars to spend and rush OFF TO Northern
cities to spend them, not only are doing an
injustice to themselves, but they arc guilty
OF disoyaty to their city. They are rob-
h'ng il OF business to which IL is morally
entitled, and they are deliberately with
drawing that financial support to which
local merchants, the city's heaviest tax
payers, have IA just claim.
The evil is more widely spread than is
popularity known. . The buyers who run off
10 New York or elsewhere to do their shop
ping constitute Il serious business drain of
course, but ii il inconscQuential compared
with the money that flows out OF Rich
mond TO the mail-order houses As bust
hess cye-opener, one should see the car
load after carload OF catalogues which just
one Western mail-Order house sends into
Richmond, and With which il veritably
Hoods virginia. These tens of thousands of
catalogues serve as an index to the money
that is diverted from local merchants,
money which rightfuily should 20 to the
uphuilding Of Richmond and Virginia And
in the end, what do the catalogue BUYERS
get? They buy sight unseen" perhaps at
nominal saving OF Il few pennies but
usually, when quality is considered, at an
actual loss. And they are contributing their
share to the shackles which are being forged
about local business enterprises.
Let Richmond citizens consider this phase
OF the transaction the next time they are
tempted TO select their purchases from
highly decorated, seductive catalogue. and
VIC believe they will desist from their sup
port OF foreign establishments which con-
tribute nothing to Richmond and care
nothing for it except the money they can
set ont OF ii.