Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-01-02

OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, JAN. 2. 1S1
OUR NEWSPAPERS.

affords the opportunity for the express
ion of An unbiased opinion upon the
relative duties of the community and
the local press. 1t is claimed that
Olympia is newspaper ridden, which
expression is doubtless intended to con-
vey the impression that there are too
many newspapers published in the
place. That there are too many for the
well-being and comfort Of the publisher
we readily concede, but that there are
too many for the benefit Of the citizen,
interested in the growth and prosperity
of the place, We emphatically deny.
We state fact which every publisher
will readily verify when we assert that
the town itself does not furnish enough
support to pay for the type-setting and
blank paper Of single weekly news
paper, to say nothing of interest on the
capital invested, the loss incident to the
wear and tear Of material and other
expenses ordinarily connected with the
business. This statement may seem
improbable to some, who Judge by su-
per6cial view of results, but we are pre-
pared to substantiate its entire truth
fitness to the satisfaction Of any candid
person. On the contrary, let us see
how much the town is indebted to the
newspapers for support. The four
weekly journals and the one daily en-
ploy, upon an average, twenty compos-
itors and pressmen, q large percentage
of whose wages-an item of from $500
TO $500 per months spent in the
town, and adds just that much to the
current business Of the place. Less
than one-fourth of this amount is de-
rived from the patronage of the town,
the remainder being obtained from the
Territory at large, and the commercial
centers from which emanate those large
advertising contracts which have yielded
their projectors immense fortunes and
made their names household words in
every nook and corner of the land.
There Is not another branch of business
in this place which occupies more i'm
portant relative position with other
industries than that OF the newspaper
press. 1t is equivalent in benefit to q
factory giving constant employment to
q like number of operatives, paid from
profits which other communities have
in great measure aided in accumulat-
ing. ~ .at.5 4t sn . ,3r o "
A far greater benefit, however, has
been derived from support which the
local press has given to every public
enterprise. As a means Of uniting pop
ular sentiment and promoting harmo-
NOUS action, its influence has been felt,
and. for the time appreciated, by those
who when the necessity no longer re-
NAMED, have joined in the hue and cry
of ours being q newspaper ridden"
community. The press has not only
aided in building up the town, but has
saved it from impending decay, and
contributed in no small degree in ward
ing off the blows dealt at it by monster
corporations supported by powerful in
Auence and unlimited wealth. Is it
assuming too much to assert that, if it
had not been for the Olympia and Seat
tie newspapers, the project Of the Ia
coma land ring would have been a sue
cesss Is it at all improbable that
if the press had not been q unit in
favor Of issuing county bonds, that an
affirmative vote would not have been
Obtained? Was it not the newspapers
which originated the movement that
has just resulted in the restoration of
onr mail service? Have they not been
vesihble sentinels, ever on the alert to
to give timely warning of impending
dangerf
There are too many in the community
who take but superficial view Of mat
ters Of public importance. They take
thsir enc from others, and join in the
refrain without pausing to consider facts
or portsnd the probable result. An IN
Stance will illustrate: A prominent pro-
fsaE;onal man was loud in his profess
Eions of joy when the Tribune was
removed to Tacoma. Circumstances
which subsequently, came under the OBJ.
ssrvatien Of the writer indicated, how
ever. that the publishers of the Tribune
had paid him $98 for professional ser
vioss during period in which he had
contributed but SO to the support of
their paper, and for which he had re-
eeivsd full vslus in return. Now the
same individua1 laments the loss Of the
Tribune. but joins in the crusade against