The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-10-04
ABSOLUTE NECESSITY or
MERCHANTS INSURANCE..
The Enterprislng Protector OF the Plun
Tells Why Local business Men
should Band for prolcotlnn.

/ ASTORIA. Oct 3-EditOr AstOriun --
Al your request ! have the honor TO pre-
sent my Views upon the question u hfe
insurance In Astoria.
Il Is an acknowledged fact that IRE IN.
surance Is almost double to what IL ought
TO be-. considering our splendid fire equip
menis. our unsurpassed water facilities
and the naturally moist condition u our
buildings. What. then, Is tho reason for
this exorbtant oyerchage? Nothing
but the desire Of the Pacific coast lnsur-
ancs combine 10 hog the whole thing,
so long as its victims do not rylnce an
inclination or the ability TO register a
kick. BY that do not mean a verbal eX-
preston OF displeOsure-Astorians have
done that for many years-but mean
a kick that will reach tender spot Of
this insurance hog.
You can talk all you like and tho hog
will only grunt but hit his money bag
and he will be careful not 10 eat up too
much OF your profit
have discussed our grievance with sew
eral merchants and property holders and
| they all agree with me that something
must be done soon. or else II will be a
waste OF time 20 do business with such
a handicap. But nobody cares to take tho
initiative because II Ia a thankless job
10 undertake "a reform against 10 strong
and INSCRIPTIONS a combine, which has
it's agents, It's newspapers and unlimited
money and nerve 10 combat every effort
at relief.
However. when we look back upon the
heroic struggle OF the Cubans. who re-
sented excessive taxation and the over
bearing conduct OF the naughty Spaniard:
when we consider that even the half
civilized Filipinos battled to throw OF a
tyrants yoke, we cannot admit that the
business men OF an American city will
forever submit to have so crushing a
tribute levied upon their incomes No
city on the Pacific coast has been blessed
with 80 large per capita income as has
Astoria during the last q years.
The fishing Industry alone has brought
millions among our people, but all this
wealth has slipped through our pockets,
aa T. through n sieve We haven't had
energy enough TO produce anything but
resolutions and trouble. We have sent
fornla for vegetables and fruits; We have |
sent hundreds Of thousands to Portland
and the willamette valley for butter. |
eggs, etc. we have sent hundreds OF
thousands more to Seattle or British Co
lumbIa for coal, while coal lies in abun-
dance near our doors; we have sent |
thousands OF dollars away for lumber.
while every breath we draw almost smells
Of fir; and the insurance hog has squeezed
almost all the rest Of our great earnings
out Of US; Astoria has been a great fish
tank. with leaky bottom. and n we
don't stop the leaks pretty soon the bot
tom will drop out altogether and half
dozen railroads won't restore the pros
pertlty which we have dlssipated by our
lack Of energy
We have exchanged the great wealth
taken out Of our fish mines for something
to eat and for a Limited amount OF in
surance, pretty much as the Espulmo
or Fiji Islander exchanges his annual
products Of ivory, furs, etc., for a little
cheap jewelry
What would the people Of Seattle, Port
land, Spokane. Los Angeles or any other
live city do under like clrcumstances2I
They would organize for home protection
and tell the Insurance hog 10 80 to an
other place, where fires never cease to ;
burn, and where old Luzlfer wouldn't in {
sure them at an rate.
What method would | propose? There 4
are several; but / prefer to exchange {
IDEAS with my fellow-suffers when we =
meet, and by cooperation, and prohtlng'