, 1886-03-11
4 Little Plain Talk.

Some OF the members or the Port
Townsend. Board of Trade, who have
hitherto been most active. are qnite
discouraged because old citizens of
the town, who have as much at stake
as any, who receive as much benefit
as any from the labOrs of the board
because such citizens persistently re-
fuse to cooperate, and because they
ridicule the results already achieved,
dispute the instrumentality OF the
board in accomplishing those results,
and do all in their power to bring the
whole movement into contempt We
rise at this time to remark that Port
Townsend cannot afford to allow a
few drones, mossbacks end malcon-
tents to obstruct her onward pro
gress. No matter if they do share
the benefits derived from the efforts
of the more enterprising, progressive
and public spirited citizens of the
place Nobody hinders them from
leading off, and If they refuse to lead
or allow anyone else to lead then let
them be left in the rear where they
belong 1t is unfortunate, but it
cannot be helped. Every good citi-
zen must wish that there might be
the most complete unanimity of
sentiment in all progressive measures,
but as there cannot be we must make
the best of the situation. We must
not allow the disaffection or perverse-
ness of the Few to block the wheels
of progress and thwart the wishes and
the best interests of the many. Port
Townsend's board OF trade speaks
with potent influence before senators,
congressman, heads of departments,
and before the world Past exper-
ience has demonstrated this. The
board of trade is accorded respect
full hearing and prompt consideration
where the efforts of few merely in
dividuals or the indiscriminate peti-
tions OF citizens would be ignored
entirely. For this reason it is the
most useful and valuable organiza-
ton ever conceived in our midst. And
there are constantly new and highly
important matters to be acted upon.
just at present there is the matter of
tri-weekly mail service from here
to Semiahmoo aRd way ports hang
ing fire. so to speak in the Postal
Department. Port Townsend steam
boat men are the bidders to whom
the contract will be awarded, if at all {;
and there are indications that it may
be awarded, but those indications do
not amount to 4 certainty, by any
means. The outcome involves many
thousands Of dollars to Us as COM
munity every year The result is too
important to be trifed with. We
cannot afford to spare any reasonable
effort likely to bring about the award.
Petitions largely signed have gone
forward by mail, but they may not
be successful A few good, strong,
ringing resolutions from our board
of trade, setting forth the facts and
necessities as they exist, teles raphed
to Delegate Voorhees,, would stir the
musty, departmental dry bones as
they need to be stirred to secure the
desired action. 1t may come out all
right as it is; but suppose it does not?
In the latter case the default Will be
chargeable to our own negligence,
laxity and hamilton. Is there not
sufficient at stake to stir US to action?
1t would seem SD, indeed. Matters
of this kind become necessarily mat
ters of vital public importance, il
stead of involving merely tie grind
ing of private axes. or course the
business interests OF the contract bid
ders wonld he enhanced if the board
of trade should secure the contract
for them-but that result would
hardly be depIorable; il would simply
be properly rewarding them for their
public spirit. Il does not matter,
even if few who take all the fnan-
cial risk do reap a fair reward. The
public is the gamer as well, and the
public has enough at stake in mater
ial interest TO warrant it in taking
lively part The foregoing sugges-