Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-05-09
a New Departure.

4
Seattle, is the establishment of the
emigration society. The DAILY Post
devotes over two columns to the pro-
ceedings Of the late mass meeting in
that city, at which time and place the
new scheme was put into practical
shape. We do not feel at all jealous
of the doings of our neighbors at
Seattle, for the reason that their eff
forts must tend towards the ultimate
good of the whole Territory. Other
emigration societies have, at varions
times, been formed in the Territory
but they were of short duration and
their work limited. The people of
Seattle have taken one step in adj
vance. in providing ways and means
for the maintenance of their organ
ization. Our own society, here in
Olympia, exists only in name. For
a long time, there has not been
money enough in its treasury to
buy the necessary stationery and
stamp required to answer letter of
inquiry from the East. 1t matters
not how charitable may be the OBJ
ject of any organized movement, it
must have inc orporated within itself,
as part AM, parcel of its very being,
! the means of sheer existence, in the
first place, or all determination and
effort must sooner or later, fall to
the ground. Previous movements
have been abortive mainly for the
reason that the appointed officers
had none other than their private
means with which to operate. The
organization lately completed at
Seattle promises much for both
Eastern and Western Washington.
It's plans for disseminating general
knowledge of our resources, devel-
oped and undeveloped, are well
laid, and they will prove effective
with the proper cooperation of our
people. According to the rules
adopted, the paymen, of the small
sum of ono dollar constitutes any
body a member OF the society for
one year. Now suppose five thous-
and Of the live men and women Of
Washington Territory we're to become
annual members Of this society with
in six months; it is easy to see that
q fund would be secured amply suf-
ficient for representing our claims to
the people of every considerable town
in the United States. Experience
proves that we must advertise or we
cannot compete with California and
4 Oregon in the business OF Turing
settlers into our Territory. If SIC
want to sell our rich productive lands
to good, responsible buyers, we must
advertise them. There is no other
way known among men. Upon re-
ceiving large subsidies, the various
railroad companies spend thousands
of dollars in advertising their lands.
Why should we not do the same ?
But now, as to the manner of adver-
tising: We have not an unbounded
faith in the pamphlet system. Peo-
/ pie will read dime novels, but they
will not read pamphlets giving in.
formation on practical subjects.
Some time ago. we suggested the
plan OF newspaper circulation in those
districts Of the Eastern and North
western States most likely to send
emigrants to this coast, and our
suggestion was highly complimented
by exchanges along the Sound. To
| the great mass Of people, newspapers
cost nothing. We can sooner reach
the heart Of hungry man through
his stomach than in any other way;
and to snrfeit him with free news
/ papers, we can soonest reach his
intellectif be has any worth seeking.
Nor do we wholly believe in the
plan Of advertising in g prominent
San Francisco and Eastern papers"
Why not create fund for circulat-
ing thousand copies Of the best half
dozen weekly newspapers published
in Washington Territory, throughout
every nook and corner Of the Union
east of the Rocky mountains. There
4 is . passing charm in reading a paper
published in the far-off land whose
beauties 1t undertakes to describe.
We do not believe in borrowing
I - :.