Show the chain stores from the Z 0 M 1 I advocate in III mentally recapitulating tho the good and evil the benefit and injury growing out of the chain store system as aa its operation effects its ita employees and the general public we are reminded of the old scotch proverb its ita an ill wind that blows na babody ody guld even a destructive tiro fire will while a regrettable gret table at the time often leads to more attractive and substantial improvements prove ments so la in all conditions thero there la is generally justification tor for the old ladys philosophy it might inight be worse it would not bo be ethical nor la in line with our policy to criticize in detail the business methods of other firms neither have we any such intentions but while aware of certain features and rules that govern in the chain store scheme which we cannot approve yet it must be conceded they have at least demonstrated fully and finally one outstanding tact fact in business policy that la Is of vital interest to every other retail merchant in the country this Is why we aim to bring I 1 the matter forcibly to the attention 0 of our readers brushing aside tor for the purpose of 0 this tah letter all objections objection s on part of employees or buying public the chain stores have bavo proved beyond the chance for further quibble the wisdom and efficiency of the cash system in tho the retail trade the credit game which has hag ruined thousands and which to somo some extent still prevails in some sections is absolutely sol and definitely abandoned by them no credit department no stagnant capital tied up in un collectable I 1 accounts no army of bookkeepers I 1 no collectors lust just cash cash cash baah it if the merli men hants ants operating in this and adjoining states slates could only grasp the full meaning and import of this object lesson in the conduct of their business we would consider the advocate was performing a successful mission any competent observer can plainly see the old style haphazard credit methods practiced so BO many years with fatal results by the country merchants ali doomed to become obsolete the process will be gradual but sure the farmers sheep men mechanics laborers everybody in tact fact must bo be made to understand their local merchant erchant la Is not financially able to act as their banker and is not in bu businow busl sinew nesi for that it they demtro and aro are entitled to credit it Is lite ani tion and bu business of the banka to supply it 11 loisil Loii il lillon in business the constant bruge dee in styles of merman dise flit flir taimon in prices weather conill ions dons failure in crops tire fire hazard and a score of other unavoidable contin fps that directly ii lct the merchant these factors aro are surely sufficient to keep heep any merchant gUes guessing stag without tho the heavy and losses losse s of bad credit under present conditi conditions ont only those who buy and sell for cash can hope to suri survive ive 9 the storekeeper store keeper whose book accounts can equal and too often exceed rood the total value vahie of hla his merchandise must bo be regarded as a back number and behind the times this statement la Is not intended to reflect upon his integrity only upon his judgment with the record of failure and bankruptcy by the thousands duo directly to the dolus delusive ive credit habit it seems incomprehensible that intelligent men will persist in using it it credit Is sold not given it sold intelligently with proper safeguards 91 ards thrown around it our objection to the system would be greatly modified but wo we know tho the average merchants in outlying districts with a few exceptions have not the facilities to do this benco we insist it should bo be drastically curtailed or wholly discontinued it if Z 0 M 1 I or any other large jobbing house examines its list of 0 tardy past due accounts it will bo be found that more than ninety per cent of cheso delinquents are themselves dabbling la credit they cannot pay their own bills simply because they cannot collect tor for what they have trusted out but why in the name of common sense should they continue contina e the do de r lusion the stores doing strictly a cash business are mostly taking discounts and many ot of them paying dividends with these facts staring staking him in tho the face and the actual object lesson furnished by the chain stores la Is it not high time tor for the rip van winkle merchant to wake up granting that enforcing the cash system would tor for a time reduce volume what of 0 it it Is profit actual turnover turn over for cash that counts not mero mere volume giving merchandise away increases volume but does not enrich the ni merchant erchant r 5 rr r reliable statistics accumulated by the mercantile agencies prove conclusively clu that fully 75 per cent of tho the failures in the retail trade la in due to bad credit and from any angle it Is 13 unprofitable those guilty of this laxity not only lose money they lose friends commer commercial clil standing and much of their dignity and Ind independence that oth otherwise erciso would bo be unimpaired TUB THE S U E |