t'AOK T 0
LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER
THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1914.
MAIL ORDER HOUSE SCARE
AGAIN FELT IN NORTHWEST
Adjustment of Priceb Vital Factor For Retailer to Learn. '
In preceding installments, the that they are all articles of general
writer pointed out many of the mis- use or consumption in practically
taken notions entertained by the buy- every home in the land. Next, that
its, and fallacies of the retailer. they are articles of staple standard
(Publication rights for this series price carried by every store in the
is hereby granted to the La Grande country; prices with which every
Merchants Association. David farmer and housewife are perfectly
Powell.) familiar. And further, that such
articles are always of small value
A fact that in most cases is ignored and small weight, very rarely ex
by the maul-order buyer when com- ceeding fifty cents and weighing but
paring prices quoted in the catalog few ounces. ,
with the prices charged by his home Here is where the catalog houses
merchant, is the very important one nov decidedly the best of the regular
of transportation charges. The cata- merchant. You cannot .walk into
log house says "Here it is, come and tne'r store and pick out those
get it," and your local merchant says "Leaders" and put them into your
"I have been to the expense of bring- buggy and drive home with them like
ing it here so that you can inspect it vou can the su'e snaps you can oc
before buying, and have added that casionally P'ck up in your local stores,
to the cost." You have to have them shipped to you
There has been no way yet de- by either freight, express or post.
vised to evade transportation charges By an easy mental computation it
and the consumer is always the man s at once apparent that the charges
that pays it, and it is" right in this for shipping by any of these means,
connection that the catalog houses added to the catalog prices, would
put over their biggest business-get- make the article cost much more
ting lemon. In the explanation of when it reaches you than would be
how it is done will be given an illus- charged by one of your home mer
tration of one of the many ways they chants. Here is the "Nigger in the
use to create the impression that they woodpile." They would know that for
sell cheaper than regular retail mer- the thrifty housewife or farmer to
chants.
All classes of merchants through-
out the country, big, little, honest and
dishonest, at different times put on
sale what are called "Leaders"
some article of common use priced at
or below cost. This is a perfectly
legitimate practice and is followed by
your local dealer as well as by the
catalog houses and big department
stores of the larger cities.
Its purpose of course is very evi-
dent. "A merchant hopes by this
means to draw you to his store, be-
lieving that he can sell you enough
other articles at regular prices to
warrant the loss on his "Leaders."
If you wish, you can step into
your local, store andioity the leader
and nothing else, and really save
some money at the expense of the
dealer's advertising fund. But how
does it work with the mail order
concerns?
It is a fact well known and admit-
ted by every student of the subject
that in the catalog of a few of the
larger concerns doing an exclusive
mail-order business are many articles
priced less than your local dealer
could buy them direct from
the
factory.
These, of course, are "Leaders." If
you care to take the trouble to run
through one of these catnlogs and
pick out these articles, you will be
very forcibly struck with several
signifiennt facts. First you will note
S J? S?
von&iete Mate
"-CctWi rfh&i and
m X' . y
' w - -
Our rubber goods are the
on our nipples and still they last; the teeth will not'
break out of our superb combs; our water bags are not!
rotten when you get them. If you have not got a good
rubber water-bag and fountain syringe in your house,
get one from us and be ready at all times, when Ihe
doctor says "get one."
Come to OUR Drug Store.
The Netvlin Drug Co. t
really benefit by the low price of
their "Leaders they must have them
shipped with enough other goods to
make up a minimum freight package
one hundred pounds well knowing
that the bulk of such orders, in most
cases, would be composed of what is
known to the trade as "blind stock," .
goods that the general public knows
little about either as to quality or I
price. j
Overbuying Its Attendant Evils, i
Merchants throughout the country
affected by mail-order competition j
seem to be of the same general opin- i
ion as to its grcutest evil the ab- j
normal development of that trait of J
human nature that prompts us to buy
something we really don't want and
have no particular use for.
"Overbuying" they say, is a vice
that goes with the mail-order catalog,
Go into any home that draws its sup-
plies from that source and you will
find goods that the family does not ;
need and never would have bought j
from a local merchant. In many
cases these unneeded goods these
freak purchases amount to a sur-
prisingly large percentage of the
total family outlay. If the catalog
houses were suddenly cut out of this I
class of sales their dividends would
undoubtedly suffer a decided shrink-
age.
"These buyers see something al
luringly described in a catalog and be-
come fnscinated by it. The 'silent
Cm
yy? '
i vy in if;
um ;
.
1':' i
mi v
lasting kind. Baby can chew
wok
My
m .mm- rr
salesman in the home' keeps on teas
ing them with it until they find some
excuse to justify their purchase of the
coveted article. These utterly un
justified whim sales amount to mil
lions of dollars a year.
"With some women freak buying
becomes a passion. They make ab
surdly foolish purchases from mail
order houses that they would not
dream of making' from their home
dealer. How to account, for it?
Simply the psychological effect of the
catalog perhaps. Anyhow this matter
of freak buying, of overbuying, is so
universal that not one catalog buyer
in a thousand is wholy exempt from
it. The mail order catalog which so
loudly proclaims itself an apostle of
prudence, is in fact a most subtle and
pernicious agent of household extrav
agance." Still another class of . so-called
merchants who profit by the general
ignorance on the part of the public
as to true values, is the farm to farm
solicitor who represents himself to be
connected with some wholesale
grocery house in a distant city. These
chaps are most always 'single trip
pers' representing some firm of abso
lutely no responsibility and who, un- J
der no circumstances, will ever cover
the same territory twice.
The bait they use is to quote ex
ceptionally low prices on two or three
staple articles, such as sugar, coffee
or tobacco; prices that they know are
always under the local merchant. The
thrifty farmer is at once interested
in such prices and imagines he is do
ing a fine stroke of business in order
ing enough of those staples to last
him ayear. He feels so good about
it that it is quite easy for the sales
men to load up the order with a large
quantity of low grade tea, rice, beans,
spices, molasses, etc; an inferior lot
of stuff that his home merchant
wouldn't sell him under any circum
stances. When the shipment is delivered
the buyer will invariably find that
those staple articles upon which he
believed he was making such a saving
have been omitted, and a notation on
the bill to the effect than on account
of mill troubles or something else it
would be impossible just at present
to ship them. The other stuff would
all be there however and he. will have
to accept it unless he has been wise
enough to write over the face of the
order before signing it that unless
the entire order is shipped within a
certain time it shall be considered
cancelled. Such orders are of course
never shipped. They are dead busi
ness.' A Business Proposition.
When your home merchant asks for
your patronage his appeal is based
solely on the grounds of dollars,
quality and service. He believes it
means as much to you as it does to
him in those terms to give him the
opportunity to- offer for your conpari
son his prices and quality before send
ing your order away from home.
Every up-to-date merchant now
keeps from two to half a dozen mail
order catalogs in his store for the use
of such of his customers as inav wish i
tj use them in making comparisons.
The merchant knows he is taking no
chances; he knows what he can do and
all he asks is a , square deal. He
knows that quality and terms con
sidered he can sell goods just as
cheap, and in many cases cheaper,
than the catalog and c'ty Lores, ex
cepting, of course, articles as those
houses put out as "Leaders."
The next time you contemplate
fending to the city or ordering a bill
of goods from a cat'ilojr house, make
out your order as usual, but before
buying your money order, take it to
one of your local merchants and let
him figure with you on the entire
order. In a spirit of fairness suppose
you try that just once. If he can't
save you any money you will at least
have shown him your heart is in the
right place.
(End of Article III.)
Annual Meeting Notice.
Notice is hereby given that on Sat
urday, May 2, 1914, the annual meet
ing of the Summerville Cemetery as
sociation will be held at cemetery in
Summerville precinct. The meeting
is culled at 2 o'clock. All are urged to
come and clean un the cemeterv.
J. A. M'KINZIE,
4-18-5-1-p. ' President,
Whnt You Have Been Looking Fo
Meritol White Liniment is a pre
paration that gives satisfaction where
a pnin killer and healer is needed.
rWe do not believe you could get a
better liniment at any price. New
lin Drug Co. Exclusive Agency.
NOTICE OF PROPOSED STREET
IMPROVEMENT.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
You are hereby notified that the Com
mittee on estimates appointed by the
Commission of the City cf La Grande,
Oregon, to make an examination of
the property, upon which assessments
are to be levied to pay the costs and
expenses of the street improvement
hereinafter described, as to the valu
ation and extent, if any of the bene
fits to be derived by said property by
reason of said improvement, have
made their report in writing to said
council, which- report has been re
ceived by said Commission and is on
file in the office of the Recorder of
said city, and is open for your inspec
tion. That it is the intention of said
Commission to levy a special assess
ment against all the property herein
after described for the purpose of pay
ing the costs and expenses of improv
ing South side of N Ave., from West
curb line of Fourth Street to the East
curb lineof Oak Street by grading and
placing thereon a standard 5 foot
concrete sidewalk according to the
plans and specifications therefore
heretofore adopted by said Commis
sion and on file in the office of the
Recorder of said city.
That the real property included in
and the boundaries of the district
benefitted and affected by said pro
posed improvement are as follows:
Beginning at a point on the intersec
tion of the center line of Fourth
Street with the center line of "N"
Avenue the boundary line runs thence
west along the center line of "N" Ave
nue'to the center line of Oak Street,
thence south along the center line of
Oak Street 80 feet to a point oppo
site the south property line of Lot 12
in Block 3 Wisdom's Addition to the
City of La Grande, Oregon, thence
east along the south property line,
of Lots 1 and 12 in Block 3 Wisdom's
Addition to the City of La Grande,
Oregon, to the center line of Cedar
Street; thence south along the cen
ter line of Cedar Street to a point op
posite the center of Block 78 of Chap
lin's Addition to the City of La
Grande, Oregon; thence east and
through the center of Blocks 78, 77,
76 and 75 of said Chaplin's Addition
to a point west 100 feet from the
west property' line of Fourth Street;
thence north to the southwest corner
of lot 5 in Block 75 in Chaplin's said
Addition; thence east to the center
line of Fourth Street; thence north to
the place of beginning: all in the
City of La Grande, Oregon, and the
estimated cost of said proposed im
provement is $1,327.19. 1 You will
further take notice that said City
Commission will meet at the Com
mission Chamber in the City Building
of said city on the 13th day of May,
1914, at 7:30 o'clock P. M. of said
day to consider making said proposed
levy and will then and there grant a
hearing to any and all persons feel
ing aggreived against, or on account
of said proposed assessment.
Dated at La Grand, Oregon this
2!ird day of April, 1914.
CITY COMMISSION OF LA
CRANDE, OREGON,
By LEE WARNICK,
Recorder of the City of La Grande,
Oregon.
4-29-10t.
CHILDREN'S DISEASES VERY
PREVALENT.
Whooping cough is about every
where. Measles and scarlet fever are
almost as bad. At the onset the symp
toms are very similar, feverishness
and signs of a cold being in evidence.
For the raw inflamed throat and mu
cous membrane, and for coughing,
use Foley's Honey and Tar Compound.
It is soothing and healing to inflamed
surfaces and the bronchial tubes. Mrs.
I. C. Hostler, Grand Island, Nebr..
snys: "My three children had very
scvpre attacks of whooping cough and
suffered intensely, and a very few
doses of Foley's Honey and Tar pave
them great relief." For mcaV.es
cough, and the inflamed throat of
scarlet fever, for croup, bronchial and
1,1 grippe coughs, for tickling throat
and honrseness it always gives grate
ful relief. It contains no opiates and
is a pure r.icdicine. That is why it
suits particular people. In 25c, 50c,
and $1.00 sizes. Do not accept a sub
stitute. For sale by Hill's Drug
Store. Adv.
Yonr job printing
he Observer office.
Have It done at
Read the advertisements too.
I CLASSIFIED DIRECTORY
- ; j
I
FRATERNAL ORDERS,
A. F. & A. M. La Grande Lodge No.
41, A. F. & A. M. holds regular
meetings first and third Saturdays
at 7:30 p. m. Cordial welcome to
' all Masins.
C. W. NOYES, W. M.
A. C. WILLIAMS, Sec.
B. P. O. E. La Grande Lodce No. 433
Meets each Thursday evening at 8
o ciock in jmk's club, comer of De
pot street and Washington avenues.
visiting brothers cordially invited
to attend.
M. B. DONOHUE, E." K,
ADNA B. ROGERS, Sec.
WOODMEN OF THE WORLD La
Grande Lodge. No. 169 W. O. W.
meets every first and third Fridays
at I. O. O. F. hall. All visiting
members welcome.
T. J. ORMOND, C. C.
J. H. KEENEY, Clerk.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMER
ICA La Grande Camp No. 7703
'meets on the first and third Thurs
day evenings of each month in the
K. of P. hall. Visiting neighbors
welcome. .
H. C. BALL, V. C.
W. F. LANDRUM, Clerk.
ROYAL NEIGHBORS Meets every
second and fourth Fridays every
month. All visiting members cor
dially invited.
NELLIE CHARBONEAU, Oracle.
LILLY C. KIMMLE, Rector.
REBEKAHS Crystal Lodge No. 50
meets every Tuesday evening in the
I. O. O. F. hall. All visiting mem
bers are invited to attend.
MARY SIMMONS, N. G.
EVA MONROE, Sec.
L. O. O. M. La Grande Lodge No.
850, Loyal Order of Moose holds
regular meetings, each and every
Tuesday night in Moose Home on
Adams street. Visitors always wel
come. P. A. FOLEY, D.
E. J. MORRIS, Sec.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS Red Cross
Lodge No. 27 meets every Monday
night in Castle hall, (Old Elks' hall)
A Pythian, welcome, to all visiting
Knights. .
H. E. DIXON, C. C.
R. L. LINCOLN, K. of R. & S.
O. E. S. Hope Chapter No. 13, O. E.
S., holds stated communications the
second and fourth Wednesdays of
each month. Visiting members cor
dially invited.
MRS. A. C. WILLIAMS, W. M.
MARY A. WARNICK, Sec.
F. O..E. La Grande Aerie No. 259
on each and every Friday evening at
8 o'clock in top floor of Foley
building. Visiting members cordial
ly welcomed.
W. C. HANSEN, W. P.
L. F. BELLINGER, Sec.
WOMEN OTWOODCRAFT CIRCLE
No. 47 Meet second and fourth
Tuesday nights of each month at
K. of P. hall. All visiting neigh
bors welcome.
LOUISE HILARY, G. N.
LILLIE ALLSTOTT, Clerk.
UNDERTAKERS. -
W. H. BOIINENKAMP CO., Un
dertaking and Embalming. Strictly
modern. Day phone, Black 241.
Night phone Red 3971 or Red 3412
HENRY & CARR, Undertakers and
Embalmers; 20 years in business:
day phones, Main 62; and Main 95;
night phones, Main 707 and Red
3131.
D.R. FONG MEDICINE CO.
CHINESE ROOT AND HERB REMEDIES
Cures Bodily Diseases With Root and Herb Treatment
Phone 762 Free Consultation La Grande
1412 Adams Ave. Ore.
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS.
A. L. RICHARDSON, M. D. Physi
. cian and Surgeon; over Hill's drug
store. Phones: office, Blk. 1362; -t
residence, Main 730.
DR. R. E. L. HOLT Physician and
surgeon; successor to Dr. N. Moll
tor; comer Adams avenue sad De
pot St Phones Office Main 68;
Residence, Main 780.
DR. M. K. HALL Physician and eur-
geon. Office West-Jacobson Bldg.
Phone Main 63. Rooms 11-12-13.
C. H. UPTON, Ph. G. M. D.-Physi-cian
and Surgeon. Special atten
tion to Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat.
Office in La Grande National Bank
Building. 'Phones: Office Main 2
Residence Main 33.
DR. H. L, UNDERWOOD Physician
and surgeon. Diseases of the eye
a specialty.
DR. DORA J. UNDERWOOD Die- '
eases of women and children. Of
fices Adams avenue, over Red
Cross Drug Store.
OSTEOPATHS.
GEO. W. ZIMMERMAN Osteopath
juiybicnui. over Lilly's hardware
store. Phone Main 63. Successor
to Dr. F. E. Moore. jf
CONTRACTORS & BUILDERS.
HORSTMAN & OLIVERHouse
builders, contractors and first class
carpenter work. Telephone for ap
pointments. Estimates given.
Workmanship the best, figures low
est. Joe Horstman. G. L. Oliver.
VETERINARY.
DR. P. A. CHARLTON VtHr,0.
surgeon, umce at Hill's drug store,
La Grande. Residence phone, Red
701 office phone, Black 1361.
DR. H. W. RILEY Graduate Vet
erinarian Hospital, 1409 Madison
Ave. State Stallion Inspector
Stock inspector for shipment. Home
Tnrl.nonfl-, TIL Ti 1 i . .
1 - ""-, UUIVA X.
Farmers Co-Operative Phone, Main
CHIROPRACTIC PARLORS.
DR. GEORGE T. DARLAND, DR.
MARY V. DARLAND. Calls ans
wered night or day. All diseases.
No. 4 Depot St. Phone Red 1751.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW.
COCHRAN & EBERHARD Geo. T.
Cochran and Colon R. Eberhard
Attorneys. La Grande National m
Bank Bldg., La Grande, Oregon. '
T. H. CRAWFORD; ROBT. S. EAKIN
CRAWFORD & EAKIN Attor
neys at law. Practice in all the
courts of the state and United
States. Office West-Jacobson build
ing, La Grande, Ore., rooms 9-10.
R. H. GREEN Attorney-at-Law
Rooms 9-10, Sommer Bldg., La
Grande, Ore. Practices in all state
and federal courts.
ENGINEERS
INTERIOR ENGINEERING COM
' PANY, Inc.r-All branches of En
gineering and Surveying. Investi
gations, Estimates, Reports. L. D.
Howlnnd, local representative, La
Grande National Bank building.
CARPET AND RUG FACTORY
1802 East Pennsylvania Ave., be
tween Cove and Island City avenues.
Rag and Fluff work; scientific clean
ing. Phone Red 741.