Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-06-18
OLYMPIA, iRIDAY EVENING, June Is, 1856.


An Old Act Under q New Name.
There seems to be u very general
prejudice against the course OF action
known % the boycott. as employed
under the present labor compllca-
tions. Whether the large scale upon
which it has been operated shows its
Questionable features by 8 stronger
light. or . unity Of sentiment OF those
opposed to anything like persscu.
ton, magpi6es its injustice. is q
question that remains unanswered;
but that the result has been some
what like that usually attributed to
the boomerang when hurled by IN
sLiIlful hands, or Of an oldfsshioned
Amy musket when discharged with
all over. load. ipjuring the person
making the assault more than the
object Of discipline. is pretty gener-
ally conceded.
Many people seem to think the
boycott a modern device. dating back
NO further than half-a. dozen years
ago, when the prosecutions Of an
Irish factor caused tho tenautry to
use Q means for retaliation which
WAS subsequently christened with his
name. This is Q mistake. Nobody
knows better than the publishers of
the newspaper what boycott is aud
how far back it dates. Horace Gree
10y tells US an amusing story Of a
boycott on the Tribune by an irate
subscriber. who objected to some OF
The white coated philosophers opiu.
ions. Meeting MIR. Greeley one
morning on his way to the office he
said: "Sir, I've stopped your pa
perl" "WhAtr' squeaked MIR. e.. ,
"stopped the Tribune" YES re
turned the boycotter, I've stopped
it." "Desr me, dear me" whiDsd
the great editor. that's too bad
but come along with me, let's see if
We can't come to same understand.
ing" The boycotter walked with
Mr.. Greeley down to newspaper row
and entered the Tribune Office. Mr..
Greeley led the way through the
business Uffice whore the clerks were
oil ct their desks. into the compos.
ing room where scores OF compost
tors were at the frames, down to the
prsss.room where the ponderous
machinery was in motion, and then
turning to the now bewildered boy
sottsr exclaimed, ~ thought you
said you had stopped my paper
ind il, il not true; everything ap.
pears to b going ON NJ usual here. y
81 l." grspsd the boyootter,
IT meant. to say. I stopped my pa
per-" "Oh." said Horace, with Or
apparent Sigh Of relief. it was you'
copy Of tho paper you stopped.
Well, well; what fright you gave
me-" The story goes on to say thai
the lesson was not lost on the crest
fallen boycotter. aud that he imme
diately resumed subscription for hi
copy Of the paper, as the easiest way
out of the dilemma.
The experience Of publishers or
this subject affords q deep in
sight into human nature. The pub
lie have no idea how general The
idea 10 entertained by subscriber
that when they place their names OF
the subscription list. the paper be-
comes in some degree subject Il
their dictation and control. Some
times the "advice" is given at thu
beginning, as when an order is left
for pair OF shoes. minute caution
against pinching Of corns is deemed
necessary; and in other instances j,
il dolsd out pisce-meal when mental
"corns are pinched. or tho editor
il importuned to mount some hobby
that the subscriber has saddled and
bridled for him 10 ride. In either
event, the inevitable boycott begins,
soon as the imperturbable knieh: Of
the scissors departs from instructions,
and Stop my paper!" is uttered
with precisely the infection that
caused Mr.. Greeley 30 much alarm.
Then the boycotter awaits the result,
Of his boom. He labors under the
idea that he has seriously embar-
raised the publisher; that he doubt.
less has douned sackcloth and placed
ashes on his head as an outward
sign Of tribulation. II be can get
two or three others to join with him
in the boycott Of Q newspaper, its
destruction 10 assured, and he waits
patiently-oh 90 patiently!-for it to
staGger into the grave prepared for
IL. II it survives, the impression
still prevails that it was at least seri-
ously crippled by the boycott.
This 10 ono Of the petty injustices
connected with journalism that is so
trivial it would probably not have
been noted, had not the same prin-
cipls bssn used in the settlement OF
actual grievances with SO little effect.
It is safe 10 affirm that there 10 no
newspaper worthy Of the name, none
that have stated facts distipctly and