The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-10-02
REWARDS OF THE NEWSPAPERS

Less than a year ago a committee
of local hardwaremen called upon the
East Oregonian and complained that
a foreign company, not residing nor
paying taxes In Umatilla county, was
peddl;ng steel ranges, coal burners
and other lines of stoves to the farm
ers of Umatilla county, and the COM
mittee requested the paper to warn
farmers of these peddlers and urge
them to patroniZe home merchants,
who are helping them support the
county and state government.
The East Oregonian, actuated by
the Justice of their plea, and by
cordial interest in their welfare and
business success, as local concerns, did
roundly roast the peddlers, urged the
farmers to patronize the home hard
ware dealers, who are their own neigh
bors and fellow citizens.
The newspaper article had good
effect for the local men, for within a
week after the paper was issued and
the farmers had read the plea for the
local merchants, a peddler came into
the East Oregonian office and
complained that we were hurting his
business; that the farmers refused to
buy, saying that the newspapers We're
roasting the peddlers, and that no pur-
chases would be made from the for
eign concerns.
Thus the East Oregonian actually
drove the peddlers out of the county
at the time, and saved the money
which they had expected 20 secure
from the county for home merchants.
This is a part of the newspapers
duty toward its home city and coun-
ty, and it performed the service cheer
fully, but
The same hardware dealers have
now formed an association, one of the
objects of which is to quit pat
ronizihg the newspapers, to quit ai-
vertising in them, or in any way con-
tributing to their income. This is one
of the rewards of the newspaper in
dustry.
Less than eight months ago three
local grocers called upon this paper
and asked us to advise Umatilla
county farmers not to purchase gro
ceries from peddler then taking ex-
nrla ~,
but TO confine their business to home
merchants. who are helping support
the schools and The city and county
government, and who are permanent in
the county.
The East Oregonian cheerfully
made a patriotic appeal to the farmers
to refuse TO buy groceries from the
peddlers, and urged that home mer-
chants be patronized. The appeal had
its good effect, as the same peddlers
came into the office ana started to
abuse the writer for interfering with
his legitimate business, and was ord
cred from the office.
The same grocers are now in a
combination which binds it's members
to quit advertising in the newspapers
All patronage has been withdrawn
from the best friend the grocers, as
well as other business men. have in
the community. This is another re.
ward of the newspaper business.
Suppose, now under the circum.
stances, that the East Oregoniar
should advertise to the world tina
Umatilla couLty is an excellent fiel,
for stove and grocery peddlers, OF
account of the inactivity and SLOW
methods of home dealers. This new:
would be heralded through the trad
journals and the county would b.
flooded in less than two months witt
peddlers and agents. and the mail or
der houses would thank us for the val
liable information.
1t is strange to think that prog