The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-06
ONES OWN BUSINESS.

On MONDAY In6 GalVeSCO0 NEWS
published an article, fair enough in
the main, on the recent change OF
THE STATESMAN from union to a |
non-union Office. But there is part |
of the article which requires atten- |
ton from us, as, were it to stand I'M
contradicted harm would be done. |
The News arrives at the conclusion,
by singular course of reasoning,
that we have a disposition to force
the 3719 cent rate upon it. Nothing
could possibly be farther from the
truth and it is very vivid imagination
which finds any such sentiment in the
article to which the News alludes.
We did, and do, claim that the News
has purpose other than that OF Sc
curing the highest grade of labor, in
keeping composition up to the I'M
healthy standard of 45 cents, and we
think the thing is patent to all intelli-
gent observers. 1t is by no means the
goodness of the News or its large
sympathy with its printers that it
pays 40 cents for work which it can
have done equally well for 371s cents.
The News likes dollar as well as any
Of us, and while in one sense it is not
our business whether it pays the one
price or the other, yet it is in another.
Austin is within striking distance of
Galveston. Her morning papers reach
here about p. M, and of course COM
pete with US for patronage, because
they can afford to publish more matter
than we, having been longer establish
ed, larger local support, and facilities
which Austin cannot afford for some
years to come. In this way she can
pay the 45 cent rate and we cannot.
She keeps it at that, and as long as THE
STATESMAN paid the rate it could
only barely exist, and it was left
totally without means to improve its
news service or increase either the
amount or character of it's matter.
Now, if the News got a better typo
graphy for 45 cents than we do for
371l we could not complain. But it
does not. And the inference is that
its unhealthy rate is maintained for
some other purpose. 1t cannot be
consideration alone for the printers.
The history of that paper nowhere
discloses the fact that it labors alone
for it's employees. And no in
stance is on record where ii
has not seized an advantage when
|. possible. We interfere in its bust
ness only as far as it is necessary
to get this plain statement before the
people, and only for that purpose. II
cannot be denied but the News is an
excellent newspaper properly so con-
, sidered, and it has already an enor.
mol as lcsS, which we viii not say
| is undeseryed. But that 1t 1ilouiC
force US to pay 45 cents per thousand
when we can do better and make 9
better paper for our patrons on the
difference, we do not concede. 1t is
the quintessence of monopoly, and the
News handles it with most admirable
skill and judgment. So much so, in
deed, as to induce the regret that its
energies in this way are not expended
in better cause. Because the News
is a great paper it does not follow that
!, Austin should not have one also, an6
all honest means looking to this enc
are praiseworthy and should be util.
lied. No, we don't want to direct the
r business or editorial policies of ou1
. leviathan neighbor; we are only en-.
/ deavoring to point out how he not
only interferes with ours, but how h
destroys it in maintaining rate fol
composition which is too high; which
, is absurdly disproportioned to thu
labor performed, and which was muir
derous to us until we resolved that We
would stand it no longer. The union
fixes the price of composition, and il
according it the News comedies it,
propriety. A union price in Calves
ton fixes union price in Houston
and in Austin as well. This is not all
, The moral effect is to encourage those
: combinations which ARBITRARILY fix
their own compensation without re
gard either to the value of the labor
performed or the ability of the EN-
ployer to pay. This constitutes a
tyranny which, aside from any con.
sideration of individual advantage
, is dangerous to all the interests of So
ciety. The News in this way places g
burden upon the backs of the papers
of Texas which they are unable to
bear. THE STATESMAN for one will
no longer consent to stagger under it
We have emancip2ted the paper from
! the imposition, and will in the future
only pay what we can afford and still
be able to do justice to our good pat
, rons.