Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 102, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1915 — LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER. [ARTICLE]

LET'S ALL GET TOGETHER.

Isn't it about time for the people to get a little closer together, and work in a little closer harmony one with the other? A country town and the farming community surrounding it are brothers,, and the one cannot succeed without ihe co-operation and active assistance of the other, A farming section without its adjacent railroad and market facilities would be a back number-—a dead one—With little future ahead. Live farmers would shun it—would have nothing to do with it- —for live men create a surplus, and they must have an outlet for that which they create. A farm adjacent to some live

town and shipping facilities is worth double that of a piece of ground with equal fertility located in some obscure section of the country. The relative values of the products of the two farms would be same—the one high, the . other low. Therefore, the farming comraunily is dependent upon the town and its advantages for much of the rural prosperity, for the high value of land’," for the ease with which shipments are made.

farmers who believe in them selves, who want a prosperous community, should encourage the town and its industries—should buy from the home dealers, should KEEI THE MONEY IN THE HOME COMMUNITY, where it adds to the commercial life of every person. Every dollar a fanner keeps in circulation at home simply adds that milch to the riches of his own community, to the value of his own holdings. The town and the town merchant owe an equal duty to the farmer, lor without his co-operation both town and merchant would perish. The town should make the farther welcome, let him feel that he is among friends, that it is HIS town, that he has a personal interest in its welfare. The merchant should make it possible for the farmer to buy his goods as cheaply at home as he can from some foreign house, and lie should keep this fact constantly before the farmer.

He should encourage the farmer by goods and selling them at a reasonable price. .Most merchants do this, although the absence of the merchant’s advertisement from the local paper keeps the farmer in ignorance of the fact. 'He should encourage the farmer in all ways, exhibit a brotherly feeling and spirit, and give the farmer to understand that he is interested in his welfare as well as in the contents of his pocketbook. It has been demonstrated repeatedly right here in this town that farmers can buy as cheaply from the local dealer as they can from a foreign house. But the foreign dealer floods the farmer with advertising matter, while some local dealers expect to be taken' oh faith.

And the farmer is a wise one—he takes nothing on faith. “Show me” is his creed. And he Poes to the man who advertises—who “shows him.” Now isn’t it about time for us all to think a little, to get together, to push this community right up to the front?