The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-02-07
Z. X. STRAIGHT, VETERAN JEW
ELER, TELLS OF BUSINESS
LIFE HERE.
Saws Town Simply Has to Prosper
Climate and Wealth Go Hand
in Hand.

business with Walla Walla, but who
have never had the pleasure of a per-
sonal visit to the city, nine times out
of ten are away astray in their opin-
ions of the place.
Most of them classify Walla Walla
owing to the citys location on the mar
of the United States, among the
ordinary western towns-towns that
have sprung into existence but few
short years ago and that bear the ear
marks of mushroom growth and Sc
forth.
But how badly mistaken these peo-
pie are 1t is almost too bad to spoil
their delusiOn.
AS smaller cities go, Walla Walla is
right up with the best of them. Today
it possesses no signs of having mad
mushroom growth for the very good
reason that the city is one of substan-
tial establishments; its growth has
been natural and has occupied a re-
spectacle number of years.
For instance all that one has to do
to get an idea of the towns long estab-
lishment is to consider the age of
few of the local business houses. One,
Il. X. Straight, the well-known jeweler,
has swung his sign on Main street for
no fewer than So years.
Questioned by reporter, relative to
his long business life in the city, Mr..
Straight replied:
Yes, Walla Walla and 1 have been
on the best of terms for great many
years Dating from last week I have
been in business on Main street just
exactly 35 years"
considerable length of time re-
marked the reporter.
Perhaps it is, but to me it does not
seem such a long time ago" said Mr..
Straight, who continued: "Walla Wal
la So years ago wasn't perhaps much
to look at nor was it very large. But
1 want to tell you this much: t..e peo-
pie who did reside mere at that time
were all thoroughbreds and business
and social life We're lively enough.
There was no state of Washington
at that time and of course. Walla
Wallans didn't have to bother much
about voting for the president ut to-
country. l was resident of the town
who the chief executive of the coun-
try would be-
AS Mr.. Straight's remarks limited at
politics the reporter asked him for a
few particulars under this head To
his queries he said: Three decades
and half ago politics were politics in
Walla Waila. 1 wasn't in the town
but few days before 1 had to de-
clare myself and principles and stand
ready to fight for 'em. In the old days
we had good scraps at every election
and plenty of scraps after elections if
you like"
OF course you We're marching in the
ranks Of democracy" said the reporter
What" almost yelled the citys
Oldest jeweler. Whats that you say
about me and democracy? If you can
prove to me that l have ever voted
the democratic ticket in my life, you
can have all I've got. No. If you con-
found my name with democracy you
do it at your own peril l want VOL
10 understand that l have voted the
republican ticket all my life and il
viii be that way up to the end if Tn
not greatly mistaken"
Here the reporter thought it wise te
change the subject so he asked Mr.
@ralght what he thought today of the
city's prospects. To this query the
Well-known jeweler said:
"Walla Walla's prospects are bet.
ter than any other city's of its size
that l know of. Surrounded by the
richest country in the world it is :
community that has simply got to nros.
per, In addition to the great pro
ductiveness of the adjacent countr,
hereabouts our climate is second I,
none the wide world over. You hea
a great deal about the climate of Cal
ltornia. Well one year l took a tri,
all through that country and you ca,
put me down as saying that the
nave got nothing in the. way of eli
mate to touch that of the Walla Wall
valley. If they have I didn't ex
-'erlence it or see it. In all the trims
nave taken l have always been might
glad to get back to the best lttl
city in the Evergreen state