Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-01-31
DEALING WITH AN EMERcENcv

DEALING WITH AN EMERGENCY.
lnere are two methods of conduct during an
emergency, either OF which may be wise or unwise.
according to the circumstances of the case. One of
these methods is merely to remain stationary until
the emergency has passed. Sometimes it is the only
safe course. The other course is that of taking s,,ch
steps as may be possible to modify the adverse con-
ditlons, and also to provide in a constructive v,av for
the time when the emergency shall have ceased to
exist. Trat course also has its advantages. and ou;te
often it is highly desirable.
There has been in the business situation an
emergency OF great proportions. The entire eco
fno1nlc structure of the country has been shaken
credit ooverstrained, has been sadly impaired the
purchasing power of the people has been diminish
ed, and things generally have been at skies and sew
ems. While there are evidences of a very appreci-
able Improvement, normal conditions have bv. no
means been restored, and complete restoration NAV
be deferred for some time. What is the proper
course to pursue?
The individual who thinks that he will lust sit
tight and let the rest Of the world go by must re-
member that a lot of other people NAV adopt the
same plan. and that if this method were to become
general, the lapse of time would bring no improve
nnent. IL purchase and construction and ENTERPRISE
OF every kind were to stop, we should be in no better
condition weeks or months hence. We should be
III worse shape because. no matter how we restrict
Our activities, the mere minimum requirements OF
existence would diminish Our resources, and the
longer we should wait the poorer we should become,
Obviously, with care and caution there must 90
the work of construction. We must 20 forward or
backward. There is no such thing as standing still.
Increased need calls for the putting forth of increas-
ed energy, and unless there is this increase there will
be no Improvement.
In the departments OF manufacture, and distribu-
ton, IN finance, in fact in every department of activ-
1ty, IT there is to be progress there must be not alone
prudence and economy, but keen vision and insight
into the future, with courage to make preparation
for the better conditions in which we must believe
unless we are fn (nSa faitt7 Arfire1,y ~, o-r co.,o!~,,
and its possibilities.
There has never been another time when the
country was SO greatly in need Of the skill, expert
ence and sound judg1nentsof it's most capable men,
and If the service which such men can give is to be
really effective it must not be confined to the writ
ing Of essays and the delivery Of ~orations, but must
also come through personal and frequent contact. In
other words, the representative business institutions
OF the country need to get out among the people
and keep among them, SO that the aid and counsel
which are just now SO greatly needed may be given
in the most direct and effective manner.
Consider the case Of the travelling man. Ordin-
arily we regard him as a business agent whose func-
ton is to sell goods. But everyone knows that at
any time the travelling man may be performing the
highest service to his house and his customer in dis
suading the latter from buying. The fly-by-night
concern, which hopes to make a killing on it's first
trip around, and never expects to repeat, has no re-
gard for the customers future, of course. But the
house which has been in business in a given territory
for years and which expects to remain permanently,
stands in a different relation to it's territory. Its in
terest lies in supplying the greatest quantity Of its
line of goods that its territory can assimilate bene.
ficially. 1t does not seek to sell goods which will
remain on the merchants shelves, nor in encourag-
ing the ultimate individual customer to buy beyond
his capacity and without regard for his needs. Its
ultimate object is to sell goods, but it carries out this
purpose in a constructive way by performing con-
slant and valuable service.
Just now there is a lull in the sale of many
k;rdr of rer~haodice M we'll rod h,1e;paes
house would think of sending its representatives
through its territory to force sales which would
later prove embarrassing both to the vendor and to
the customer. But if the local merchant is not Just
now in need Of the services of the travelling man as
a salesman of goods to be delivered tomorrow, he is
in need Of the knowledge, the experience and the
counsel of the travelling man in a multitude Of other
ways.
Some business concerns have adopted the poll
cy Of sitting tight and waiting. In order to lessen
current expenses they have withdrawn their repre-
sentatives from the field. Others are keeping their
best men at work, not for the purpose of selling
goods which ought not to be sold at this time, but
in order to keep in personal contact with men who
are going to be their customers for a long time after
this flufry is over. Sometimes they find it necessary
to draw on surplus accounts in order to do this. In
that case they reflect philosophically that is what a
surplus is for. And, when the revival sets in in ear,
nest, as it surely will, it is the institution which has
remained in the field and which, through fair wealth
Ct and foul, has stood ready to extend the helping
hand whenever help and wherever help could be
given, that will reap the benefits of it's faith and
forethought-
Members of the New York building trades Or
CARNATIONS agree to work several hours overtime
per week IN consideration of the sale Of supplies at
cost for the erection Of a lot Of buildings, provided
they are allowed to occupy the buildings at the re
duced rentals provided for. In that agreement the
workmen recognize a very direct connection be
I<vuASn $hAir nY1v W. 0es and fhA cost rf living &&+
Those papers would have been served on Mr.
'ICafiro last week all right enough if Mr.. Gathro had
moved . little more leisurely in passing a given
'lpoint