The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1921-07-13
Mighty Faulty
Reasoning.

There are several reasons why
we can do work for less money
than the average shop. We do
not pay rent for our house or
place of business. We do not pay
interest. We have no highpriced
help. We do not observe the Al
hour week, but work the full 60
or more. Our family lives econ
onically and we don't need as
much money as the average fami-
ly.
All these things taken together
make quite a difference, so don't
get the idea you have been held
up just because someone else
charges you more than we do.
The chances are that he is doing
the work as cheaply as he can do
it and stay in business"
The above is part Of an advertise
nent that appeared recently in one of
the Herald's exchanges. 1t is interest
ing to look at it closely, for it should
be analysed.
This man says that he does not pay
rent on his house or place Of business.
Then who does? Is it not property
that if converted into cash would be
worth at least per cent interest? If
his house and place of business are
worth six thousand dollars, then there
is an actual interest charge of $40 per
month. To this must be added an
equal amount for depreciation which
somebody must some time pay. This
is $50 per month. interest and depre-
citation that he can't get away from.
Then there are taxes, which in the
average community these days would
amount to at least $40 per month.
Who pays these?
eve have no high-priced help and
work so hours a week or more" he
says. Granted that he does, but isn't
his time worth just as much to him
as it is to somebody else? And isn't
his ability to work 60 hours week
limited to the years Of activity and
energy that must count for old age :?
Shouldn't he be getting fair compensa-
ton for those hours
Then, he says, his family olives
economically" This may again be
granted as true But are the members
of his family enjoying the same lux
uries and privileges as are enjoyed
by the family Of the average business
man of the community? BY stinting
and saving this man has accumulated
home and place of business free of
debt that are worth, say six thousand
dollars. He has been penny wise.
Neither he nor his family probably
have gotten a hundred miles away
from home in ten years. His wife
probably makes her own clothes and
those of the children. All this is well
enough if necessary, but what are the
wife and children receiving for the
sacrifices they have made, and what
can they ever hope to receive when the
head of the family thinks it unneces-
sary to ask interest on the savings
accumulated through years Of strict
frugality?
What would anyone think of man
who would accumulate say six thous-
and dollars in cash and then loan it
without interest? He would be con-
sidered fool, we believe Yet this
is exactly what this business man is
doing when he figures that he does not
have to charge for rent because he
owns his own home and place of bust
ness.
1t is sincerely to be hoped that there
are not many business men in the
country, regardless Of the nature Of
the business in which they are engage
ed, who follow the same line of reason
ing as the business" man referred to
in the above quotation. It is the fol-