Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-11-01
A Question Answered.

"Nhy don't you publish a daily pa
per >" i a query that is asked SO often
that We deem it worthy of a general
reply We E,:ght dismiss the matter
~ a simple statement OF the whole
truth in the four words IL WW not pdu,
but that does not satisfy the general
inquirer and he insists with much
volubility and vehcmencc that it can,
may, must and shall pay, and supports
his position by an array of argument
that, however satisfactory it may be
to himself, only shows how wide a
difference may exist between a purely
theoretical and a wholly practical
view OF given subject. The fact that
the writer has devoted twenty-nine
years OF his life to the publication Of
the STANDARD; that he is equipped
with ample facilities to prosecute the
business with the best results at Il
minimum OF expense; that he has
made several special endeavors to
demonstrate the reliability of that
faith with which non-craftsmen seem
to be SO literally endowed; that it is
generally acknowledged that his ef-
forts have been altogether creditable
to himself, and worthy Of the best sup
port of the community, seem to pass
for nought with those who know
whereof they affirm" as legal friend
around the corner expresses it.
The close competition which must
necessarily exist between the local
daily newspaper and the press OF Sc
attic, Tacoma aud Portland, as pur'
veyors of news in community OF as
limited scope and patronage as ours, is
one of the causes which operates with
decisive effect, and divides patronage
which united would barely more than
yield an adequate support for a daily
paper, which must embrace features
that cost money, if it expects TO re-
tain anything like respectable posi-.
ton even in a small way in modern
journalism, or to do much good for
the community, the main object
sought by those who so urgently in.
sist that it will be a golden-egged
goose for its fortunate protector. Lop
of those features and the cost they in
volye, and a vigorous kick all along
the line would either knock the breath
out of the bantling, or the ambition
out of its owner, and both would soon
degenerate into asnide" concern that
would be of no real benefit to anybody.
Those who talk the loudest in favor
OF newspapers, as well as hotels, are
sometimes those who come here to
make money, not spend it," and their
support ends in wind. The writer's
experience in the publication of the
EVENING OLYMPIAN would be an in.
teresting as well as appropriate chap
ter in the consideration of this subject
While the majority of those who
pledged support fulfilled their con.
tracts to the letter, there were quite a
number of others who paid grudgingly
paid in part Or did not pay at all fol
their advertisements or subscriptions
Still, strange as may appear, these
same individuals who almost without
exception wear No. 6 hats and wae
No. 10 mouths, strut SYSTEMATICALLY
and talk everlastingly of what they
have done and are doing for the com.
munity!
Another blighting effect upon news.
paper enterprise in Olympia is that
her merchants, as class, are moi
advertisers. With two or three ex'
ceptions, thay prefer hanging goods
outside the door to inviting custom
through the public prints They are
not to blame; it is their manner of do
ing business. They have not got out
of the rut worn by old-time prejudice
against everything modern. They
conscieptiously believe that railroads
reduce profits and that newspapers
brings in competition capital which
places in jeopardy the business that
claims priority by right Of discovery !
There are, however, exceptions, and
the files Of the OLYMPIAN will show
that we have men in our midst who
are fully abreast of the spirit of the
times in all enterprises which conduce
to the public good. They were the
life Of the OLYMPIAN while it existed
and if their example had been followed
by others equally interested in the de-
velopment Of our local resources, it
would be to-day one Of the permanent
institutions of our beautiful little city
THE New York World has made the
discovery that Mr.. Blaine's declina-
ton of the Republican nomination fol
the Presidency in his Florence letter
was owing to prostrating illness
which had developed a most serious
mental dependency. This may be
true, but not the conclusion which the
writer draws in his six-column article
that Blaine threw away the Presi
dency" by this action. Blaine was moi
stronger in 1883 than he was in 1884
with his own party, and the prestige o.
defeat, especially when pitted against