The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1909-04-16
Not Dead. Only Sleeping

dead. Il only sleeps. Il will wake
up By and by.
While some progress is being made
at the meetings Of the Wenatchee Val
ley Development Club, regular meet
ing Of which was held last Friday night,
still, the indifference Of lot Of people
who you would naturally think would
be interested in any movement which
has for its object development in the
broadest sense Of the term, have never
attended a meeting since the organiza-
ton was started. Whether they are
deferred in taking part on account Of
past failures, OF whether they are so
entirely selfish as to be willing to profit
by what others may accomplish for the
good Of the town, or yet whether they
decline to take part on account OF per
sonal feeling, only themselves can an
swer. In any event, we have to regret
that some business men, property own
ers and professional men have so far
shown no interest in matter which
ought to enlist the hearty support Of
every man who believes in progress
and improvement. With opportunities
that may not come again in a lifetime
this town is behind every other town of
its size in the state-yes, behind many
towns Of half its size, in an effort to set
before homeseekers its advantages.
II has been suggested to appeal to
the public spirited women of Leaven-
worth to get together and do something
to advance the welfare Of the commun-
ity. Nothing could be more sure than
that they can not do less than the
Lords OF Creation" have done.
To the very shame Of the town it
must be said that not more than a
dozen and half have so far shown any
interest in Leavenworth's future vel
fare. In the past, when the good
name OF the town has been brought
into question by some inconsiderate
individual, who might well have direct
ed his efforts to house-cleaning at
home before shying rock at his neigh
Dor, The Echo has welded verbal
cudgel in its defense. In the face Of
such lamentable indifference to its own
welfare as Leavenworth shows at this
particular time, how can newspaper
come to its defense with any enthu-
siasm or spirit2
If a town is afflicted with dry rot; if
it is in dying condition, or already
dead, and only waits to be buried, its
newspaper can not galvanize dead
and apparent fact and make living
issue OF it. II the people of this town
show by their Indifference that they
have no faith in its future, that it is
place to be avoided, that it is place
from which those who seek homes
should fee as they would from the
wrath to come, The Echo might deny
the impeachment; but, like Banquo's
ghost, the naked fact would not down.
In these piping times the discerning
reader Of newspaper can tell good,
live town from dead one with unerr-
ing certainty, and when there are so
many live ones he is sure to 60 past
the dead one. No one wants to live,
not to speak Of being buried, in dead
town.
The surprising thing about the mat
ter is that Leavenworth seems to be
enjoying her Rip Van Wrinkle nap.
Serenely unconscious Of what is going
on around her. Not knowing that the
hustling little village Of Peshastin, with
only bakers dozen Of inhabitants, has
raised thousand dollar publicity fund
and is getting four or five families
every week. That her live commercial
club is reaching out in every direction
for men TO come and develop her nat
ural resources-and getting them, too.
Some day, tho you and I may be
angels when that day comes around, a
class OF men will come and poke Leav-
enworth in the side and wake its