From the Nicholas Republican
Richwood, West Virginia
Thursday, February 15, 1917
Headline: PAY UP WEEK
A number of the country newspapers have enlisted in a campaign to have
a "Pay-up Week" in this county from Monday, Feb. 19 to Saturday Feb.
24, inclusive. The idea is that every Mr. A shall pay his bills so that
every Mr. B can get in the money to pay every Mr. C and so on down the
line until everybody has money on hand and is happy. The slogan is "I'll
Pay My Bills so You Can Pay Yours."
The idea has been used in various sections of the country with very
salutary effect, it is said. Small debts, in particular, have been wiped
out in wholesale lots, according to the proponents of the plan, because
people who had drifted into the habit of "running behind" made a strong
effort and endured such economies as were necessary to get the wherewithal
to pay their obligations.
The county papers which are taking part in the campaign are using,
among other arguments, the following little sermon:
Help build up this community
By paying your Bills so
That other folks can Pay Theirs.
None will deny that willful indebtedness is wrong. Nothing will hurt
a man's standing in the community more than the habit of contracting
small debts and letting them run on indefinitely. It is the little things,
after all, that are the real test of character.
There are very few persons unable to pay almost at once the little
debts they owe. When they neglect these debts they put themselves in
the class with the fellow who won't pay and few of us desire to be in
the "he-won't-pay-his-honest-debts" class.
We are going to have a Pay-Up Week in this community.
In order to promote friendship, good feeling, business credit, be one
of the folks that settle all bills during this period. You will be better
off even if you have to economize sharply for a short time afterward
those you pay will be better off because you will help them meet their
bills, and the whole community will profit.
Start the habit during the Pay-Up Week of paying your bills promptly.
Such a habit will establish greater credit for you. Why, any banker
will tell you a man doesn't have to be wealthy to secure a loan when
he needs it. The poor man who has the reputation of paying what he owes
has a better credit at the bank than the man who has greater resources
but won't pay up.
Remember the slogan --- I'll Pay My Bills So You Can Pay Yours.
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