The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1919-06-05
oNTARIo's MERCHANTS

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Perhaps it would be the charitable thing to do, to
forget the remark Mr.. W. E. Lees made during his dis
cusson of the paving proposition when he described the
merchants Of the city as 'men who have shirtal full
of goods that they TO Baker any place else
And the Argus is willing to let the matter pass
slip of the tongue directed by mind intent with the heat
Of argument but believes that apology due from Mr.
Lees to the merchants of Ontario He at least should be
the last man in the city to make such an caed for and
sighting remark
But the Argus wants to take this opportunity to di-
rect the attention Of property to the part that the
merchants of Ontario have to sustain IN every phase OF
the civic life Of Ontario.
First Of all it is because Ontario has such fasghted
and energetic merchants who carry stocks of goods of such
quality and in such quantity they do that Ontario is the
trading center of this section The Argus believes that
without fear of contradiction it be said that
for enterprise and progressive merchandising Ontario 5
business have peers in the Snake river valley To
degree greater than is usually the they the city
Of Ontario and whatever progress has been made here IS
almost entirely due to their efforts.
Who may ask is it that supports every public en-
erprsc in this community Who is it that donates to
every cause2 Who is il that took the time to sell Liberty
Bonds pay for the entertainment of the departing soldiers
and for their welcome homer Who gives time for the Fair
workl Who works on the Commercial club committees
Who entertained the stocmen? Who has done amy of the
many things that have been done for the general welfare
of the community, things that make this town and thus
make business property and residence property worth
what they are2
Let any man answer that question Is the landlords
of this town of Ontario who do these thngsl Have they
contributed in time or in money in proportion to what tho
merchants have donel Who will say that they have! No
one for no one can and tell the truth.
The doorways of Ontario business houses are worn
with the tracks of soliciting committees. When it comes
TO giving funds to support any public measure Ontario
business generous without stint. Some may not
have given great deal of time to these matters but they
have given money and in proportion TO their worldly
wealth. as compared with that of most of the landlords of
the city they have done their duty ten times
The Argus regrets that there is occasion for making
such comment But these the facts They should not
be for the interests of the merchants and the landlords
nro IL wOuld
for the landlord depends upon the prosperity of the
chants far than does that of the merchant depend
the prosperity of the landlord But the business man who
is getting started in life and has TO accumulate capital 10
maintain stock not divert it 10 the erection of build
ngs Therefore the landlords should boost the business
of their tenants, for their own advantage.
And what more could Mr.. Lees ask than the public
that the business have made that they will
pay the increased rents necessary to pay the paving bcor
their stores {! Could anything be fairer!
We ask him to take this into consideration and to CON
slider too that all the people who live here entitled to
consideration for il is their presence here that has made
the town what it is today.
While year may not be long in the life of city, has
been well said thcreaIe times when decision not be
delayed without copardzng the future The question is
whether that time has arrived. 1t is not question Of
whether the who'favOr it merchants property
owners.
No doubt Mr. Lees regrets his sighting remark
directed at the merchants We hope that he does and that
everyone will forget it, and any other knock that anyone
has made and that having been aroused and feeling the
property and Ontario citizens in general will unite
now for bigger and better city.
uuTu