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4 His Attitude toward Competitors.

The value of the interchange of credit information is being recognized more and more in the granting of credit. Not only the ledger information should be given freely and willingly when requested by a competing house, but also any additional advice which will aid them in extending credit. Practically every credit man can recall instances when he saved his house a loss through the courtesy of some other firm giving him a comprehensive report on their experiences with the applicant for credit. The golden Tule is quite applicable in present day business and it is only by always sending an intelligent and complete report when requested, that the tricky, unprincipled debtor can be stopped from “beating” some other house and thereby perhaps eventually be taught the lesson he so badly needs. If a credit man conducts himself in this manner, he has a right to expect and demand that the same treatment be accorded him when he is seeking information.

In extending credit it is necessary to know as many as possible of the other houses carrying the account, not only in the same line, but also in other lines that are car- ried by the applicant. This naturally brings the credit departments of various houses into contact with each other and as credit information is imparted to one, so it ought in every single instance to be returned when requested— freely and comprehensively. Any information given is always held strictly confidential, its source is never di- vulged, and it is a great boon to one’s brother credit man. Tt matters not whether a request for information come from a house known to one or whether it come from an ab-