“You can usually depend on Dun, can't you?”
“Yes, I think they sin on the right side; they are apt to make a man out as bad as they can. Here is one of their reports, as an instance:
F. Keef, saloon and grocery. He appears to be doing a good business;
is in debt, but to what extent are not able to say. Had some claims
against him here, but think he will pay. Has some energy and push in
business. Has no real estate so far as known, and not considered
sound financially.
“You would not care to sell a man on such a report, would you? Yet that man is one of the best paying men on our books.”
“Do not your salesmen call on the banks?”
“Yes, I suppose they do, but let me tell you that banks are the biggest liars in existence. They often say a man is good when they know exactly to the contrary. My man sent in an order from L. Loeby, of LaGro, Kentucky; he wrote, 'Loeby is a sharp buyer, and said to be good. I called at the bank and they said he was A No. 1, and good for anything he buys.' Well, I got a report from Dun, and here it is:
L. Loeby, LaGro; age 35; married; been in business two years; fairly
temperate and fairly attentive to business; character and business
capacity moderate; it is said doubtful as to honesty; means in
business, about $1,000; no real estate; on the $1,000 above listed as
his means in business the bank here holds a chattel mortgage of $600;
he has a large family, and of late he has not been paying his bills
as they fall due.
“You can see why the bank quotes him A No. 1. The more goods he gets the better is the value of their chattel mortgage. I have stopped putting much faith in what banks say about men.”
“Are not the mercantile agencies almost always sure to find something against a man or a firm?”
“No, sir; they have to give facts as near as they can get at them, and if there is nothing against a man they can not give anything against him. Take this report: