Year: 1876

We are glad to see that the papers are


taking up al over the country,'a matter


that we have often wondered does not en-
gage more ef the public attention. That
is the retail stofes which sder for sale
articles used in the consumption Of every
day life. We mean by this those things


which are actually necessary to the com


fort Of the being, such as boots, shoes


clothing and groceries. In the stagnated


condition of all business channels, the


workingman and the business man alike


are common sufferers in the parslyzing
stroke that the pulse Of business has re-


ceived and in the enforced economies Of


the times are compelled to make the need


correspond with the means with every


consideration for the preservation ofthe f.


nancial resources. And when this is well
understood, it seems very unreasonable that


those who are engaged in businesses that


are drawn upon every day to meet imper-


ative wants, should maintain steady prices


that do not fuctuate with the ebbs and


flows of trade like other businesses which


are not SO constantly drawn upon.


It is impossible for the purchasers Of


staples like those we have named to recon-


cile themselves to such prices, as are gen.
orally asked. 1t is not just in the first
place to make the demand, and in the Sec
ond place it is not fair to make advantage
of the opportunity, and ask first prices for
that which is indispensable to daily con-
sumption. The manufacturer and con-
tractor in the face Of a competitor that mar
rows them down to the smallest margins in
bidding for work, finds himself just grazing
the ominous line marked-"expenses," and
with but meager amount, in comparison
with that he has been accustomed to to
support his family. To secure work, that
will occupy his machinery and prevent the
Of his working force, these lat
ter come under the lance which trims
down and shapes prices into the smallest
space to frighten off ..throat-cutting COM
petition. six-seven and ten per cent
is but small amount for wages to be re-
duced, and often times the pruning hook
of the close business man lops off fifteen,
twenty and twenty-five cents. The result
Of this is that the workingman is placed
wholly at the mercy ofthe employer, who
pleads the heavy load of bad debtors he |
has to carry and the low state of contract
prices. The workingman who usually
makes eighteen dollars per week finds him
self making nearly five dollars hess. His
first thought is the one of economy. He
flnds himself blocked a. the stores, where
he needs must go to keep body and soul to-
gether, and his frame from the punish
ments Of the seasons. Everything is the |
same in price as when he was doing we'll. |
There have been no changes here, and he
must pay them out Of the small wages he |
is making.


We think that if storekeepers would
give this matter intelligent thought, that
they could meet these demands for shrink
age in their own prices proportionate with
those which have infected other branches
Of trade and meet the emergency
successfully. Big profits fatten and en-
rich sometimes, but there is precedent of


he contrary, and the poor man when he
reaches prosperity never forgets those who
.ook no advantage Of him iu his poverty.