Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-15
Cedar Rapids Gsazette)

probably never before in this coun-
try has the value Of a newspaper to
community been more forcibly ex-
pressed than in Butte, Mont, some few
weeks ago, when labor troubles caused
every newspaper in the city to sus-
pend publication for over five weeks, ;"
said Arthur b. Railey, a New York
broker. who was in Cedar Rapids last
night on his way home from an ex-
tended tour Of the northwest. 1T is
difficult for people to comprehend what
1t means to be deprived OF a news
paper" continued Mr.. Railey. For
thirty-nine days following February 10
no daily papers were printed In Butte,
and by reason Of this suspension pup
fishers and advertisers had an oppor-
tunity to exactly ascertain the value
OF advertising. And the difficulty was
due to question Of wage scales, IN
which printers, pressman and stereo-
typers were involved. These employees
sought more wages and the trouble was
finally settled by a compromise, IN
which both sides made concessions.
'.No matter how serious was the re-
suit Of the strike, 1t served its purpose
and American business men and pup
fishers have gained somewhat OF an
idea as to the true value of the news
paper. It afforded an opportunity for
serious thought and reflection, and 1t
had its good features as well as the
bad ones.
quite is a city Of 10000 people, and
has four daily papers = the Butte
Miner. the Butte Intermountain. the
Butte Evening News and the Anaconda
Standard. ali running from eight to
thirty-two pages. The last named is
printed twenty-eight miles from Butte
but it is regarded as Butte news
paper.
"Ten days after the papers suspend
cd difficulty after difficulty began to
beset the city. Political conditions
were the first to suffer. 1t was found
that candidates for office in the muni-
opal election, which was near at hand,
could not qualify for the nomination,
unless properly advertised; political
conventions, under the state laws, could
not legally do business without certain
advertiser Furthermore success
full candidates could not hold office,
because of the foregoing conditions.
1t was strike that threatened to at
feet social conditions more seriously
than ever 1t served to emphasize the
Importance Of the press in carrying out
the state laws and aiding in the move
ment of governmental machinery.
"a small weekly paper was leased
by the politicians of one party and is
sued daily. All of it's space was used
in advertising the fling of nominations,
notices Of primaries and conventions OF
all parties. The government used it
to advertise federal legal notices, pri-
waite corporations wanted to utilize It,
banks and other concerns with whom
it was imperative that certain busi-
ness notices and statements be pub
lished, besieged it on all hands. and the
little sheet was swamped with bust
ness. Thus will be seen the value OF a
newspaper from this viewpoint.
ut remained, however, for the man
in business to become more impressed
with the Importance of the press. Fol-
lowing the newspaper shutdown
strike of the miners was threatened,
which caused much uneasiness. This
was speedily adjusted, however, and
many merchants unacquainted with the
value of newspaper advertising were |
not as yet Convinced that it was indis-
pensible to success in business. Day /
after day and week after week the
stores were practically empty. With
spring coming and Easter only few /
weeks off the leading stores Of the city |
became thoroughly alarmed and began /
to lay off clerks. One department I
store laid off so per cent of its clerks,
The president of another department {
store acknowledged that the news /
paper suspension had cost him from so I
70 rs per cent of his business He I
made the statement that thru their In !
ability to lay before the women of the
.ity the facts about his Easter stock
ne had disposed of only a small portion
If It. But others besides department
III e-5 8 i,