The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-06-28
What Are We Good for, AnyWay2

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against our grain to SANDER our
town; it requires all the pugilistic
tendency In our system to give 4
black eye to d Bemidji citizen; but
the time and hour has arrived to say
something. It is time to make one
horrible example Of one business firm
as warning to others. In the first
place, what issthe greatest factor il
the upbuilding OF community? Is it
the hotel that feeds visitors? Is it
the store that brings in settlers? Isit
the electric light plant that attracts
people with its city-like glare? Is it
the brass band playing that settles
with people the words around Be-
midi? Is it the lumber firms who cut
down our forests and then fly away
are they the ones who show most in
terest in the welfare of our town?
We do not know what you think
about it, but we believe the newspaper
that devotes it's whole time, year in
and year out, pointing out the re-
sources and inducements Of a COM
munity, praising it and its people,
working for more settlers, stimulating
public thought for improvements and
more enterprise; telling to the world
the great progress being made In the
town we believe the newspaper Is en-
titled to more credit than it receives.
A town without q newspaper isn't
much Of a town; a good newspaper is
seldom found in bum town. Every
loyal citizen should help to make the
paper a true mirror Of the town he
lives in. The business man who
ignores the press is either leech who
is so busy filling his own pockets that
he has no time to be patriotic, or
there is something wrong with his
4 balance wheel
A great deal Of complaint is being
made by our people against a prac-
tice which threatens TO ruin our town.
There is too much sending out Of
town for supplies. And every agent
that comes to town with choice
samples of clothing, groceries, books,
medicines, millinery, ETC., finds willing
buyers in Bemidii. We believe that
the person who earns the price of his
daily bread here ought to buy the
bread here. Whether they know it or
not they are the worst Knockers
agains. our town-those who send
away for goods. which can be pur-
chased here (even if at a higher
price, We have more than once
called attention to this complaint, but
we have not plead the cause of the
newspapers.
In spite of a wrong public impress
sion the newspapers are poorly paid
servants. Considering the amount OF
work done and the amount of money
invested, the newspaper works for the
least per cent profit of any enterprise
in most towns. Were it not for their
job printing plants and legal print
ing the newspapers OF Bemidji could
scarcely live.
We are not complaining because SO
many prominent citizens are sending
their job work out of town where
they can get it at Chinese prices, if
they are content with Chinese work
manship; we do not complain If some
of our merchants will patronize every
travelling fakir with a new advertis-
ing scheme and leave the home
printers to starVe without any of
their work. No; we are too patient to
complain about small things.
But here is the winter of our dis
content: There is prospering COR
poration doing business in Benidii,
firm drawing tribute from us and
nearly every business place and
dwelling in town; firm over which
we have written several columns of
congr atulations at their enterprise
and success. This firm uses lot of