Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-02-20
Are Big Papers Indispensable

Are Big Papers Indispensable"
Ono would hardly suppose that the
Orogonian, or other papers which seem
to be published under the impression
that bulk is as essential as quality in
keeping the public in touch with pass.
ing events, would accept with any de.
gree of complacency the plea OF the
four-paGc paper that it has q right
to live. But the smaller papers have
at least a right to give expression to
that tired feeling" that overcomes
the newspaper patron when the carrier
throws down a wad OF the last issue of
the big daily on top of the unread
pages OF the day preceding it, and to
claim that probably better idea might
be formed, by the average reader, of
the drift OF current events from fif-
teen minutes perusal Of the country"
weekly than days attempt to wade
through the ocean depths OF the big
daily.
In order to test the thoroughness OF
reading by the busy man, who the
Oregonidn maintains needs the big pa
per more than all others, we casually
interviewed five business men of this
city-men OF rather more than ordi.
nary intelligence, by the way-upon
their knowledge of certain leading
events, who regularly scanned the big
papers. Two Of these were merchants,
two professional men, and the other q
politician. On as important and in.
teresting a matter as the rebate on
coal, two knew that it had been made
only one knew that the only votes re.
corded against it were half q dozen in
the extreme west, and two remembered
that they had read the head lines
but had forgotten all about it. The
war-scare over rejection of Commits.
sioner Bowen's terms to the allies, met
with just about as accurate a fixing oil
details upon the memory. Only the
politician had read the kilograms and
knew that the probable defeat of ne.
gotiations was based uron a claim oil
Germany for preferential treatment
for the powers that had begun en-.
forcement of their claims by hostili.
ties. One had connected the activity
OF our government in army and naval
adjustment with the gravity of the
situation, and three had regarded the
matter as merely a difference on q
deAil of small consequence. Coming
nearer home, none had done more
than to glance at the debate on the
Commission bill in the Senate, on
Wednesday of last week. The politi.
tician alone had read over the names
OF the members voting for and against
the measure. But one had read with
enough attention to fix the identity
of those who had spoke for or against
the bill. And all this uncertainty, We
maintain. is due to the casual manner
in which q big undertaking is per.
formed Of reading much in an effort t.
fix few facts upon the memory.
The Oregonian virtually admits the
hopelessness of the attempt to Absorb
the facts studded with the excessive
verbiage of big newspaper, when i,
calls attention to the fact that it pub
fishes an index to its matter, 90 that
the reader may select what he wanta
to read as we'll as to determine what
he would avoid, before he enters upon
the task, and, by proper classification
OF subjects, he may turn to preaching
or politics, news or nonsense, facts OF
fancy, markets or miscellany. Thai
will be . great aid to the reader when
he is put on to the combination
and is taught how to work it. In the
meantime, the boiled down" paper
will march on with banners flying and
patrons shouting its praises.
The Republican newspapers are
making a great clamor over the state.
ment that Col" Walter r. Stoll, q
so-called leading Democrat Of Wyom'
ing has Topped and now wears 9
Rooseveltian collar. They are vel
come to NIL the support his influence
will carry. It is simply case Of fol-
lowing his nose to the pie-table. He