The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-06

u
council raising the license TO just
and equitable basis.
-
,, PATRoNIzE HOME INDUSTRY,
There is an apparent indifference In
Astoria among large number OF peo-
pie. as to what duty each owes to the
public. There are as many kinds of
business represented in Astoria ns Sny
city of its size on the Pacific coast.
Diversified industries have been estah-
lished and more are needed How 10
protect these industries and stimulate
business is a question thai a majority
Of the people of Astoria do not seem TO
be familiar with. There Ia no reason
or excuse why anyone should 90 away
from Astoria to trade. There Is not TN
article of merchandise manufactured
that is not sold as cheap In Astoria as
In Portland or any other city. While
the stocks are not as large. yet with
the exception of a few fastidious peo-
pie, who imagine that because an arti-
Gle has been purchased In Portland 1t
possesses more intrinsic worth. than
though purchased of the home mer-
chant. the stocks carried are sufficient
to supply all the wants and require
ments Of the people.
The habit OF going to Portland 10
trade, 1t not confined alone to those not
engaged in business. but TO all classes
of people. Many people go to Portland
on a visit or on business and avail
themselves of the opportunity os max
ing many purchases, and In mary In
stances pay more for the goods pur-
chased than they can be bought for IN
Astoria. The result is that q large
amount of money is annually sent out
of the city and the circulating nediurs
decreased proportionately. Portlan
people never come to Astoria to trade.
They are firm believers in patronizing
home merchants and home industries
and this is what has added materially
to the growth and prosperity Of Port
land.
No city can prosper unless there Is
unanimlty of sentiment. among all
classes Of people. 1t is not right, 1t is
not business, to divert the trade of any
one branch OF business and throw 1t to
a city that has no community Of inter-
ests, who are advocates Of patronizing
home Industries and all their efforts
are in that direction.
There is a wonderful difference be-
tween the people Of Astoria and the
sound cities. No one ever hears OF any
one from Aberdeen, South Bend, Hou-
quinn or any Of the smaller cities of
Washington going to Seattle or Tacoma
to do their trading They preach pat
ronizing home industries and practice
what they preach. This Is one reason
why the merchants Of these Washing
ton towns are prosperous. When busi-
ness is dull in Astoria, the direct cause
can be traced by too many people going
to Portland to trade. A city Of approx
imately $4,000 inhabitants, with every
branch of industry represented, with
an industry second to the largest in the
state, with no Idle men and plenty of
for everyone, should never
complain of lack of business. But
as long as the prominent men and their
wives do their trading in Portland, a.
large number of others soon becomeI
convinced that better bargains are to-,
be obtained and they transfer large
portion Of their trade to Portland merE1
chants. AS has been stated, the fault
does not lie with the laboring element,
but with all classes Of people.
When a policy is adopted in Astoria
Of ,patronizing home merchants and
home industries, and the contingent is
led by the merchants, then will Astoria
prosper, its business be increased and
of dollars now sent out Of
the city, remain at home and be circu-
ated among its people. Then can the
merchants build handsome homes, lend
heir financial aid to the establishment
1f local industries and build up home
This theory has been the
prime caues Of the building up of Seat
lie, Tacoma, Spokane and other pro-
yressive Washington cities. Local
merchants advertise their business to
latch the trade of the suburban and
districts, but If these people
we're to follow the example of some of
he Astoria people and do their trading |