The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-09-06
Where Monopoly and
Cooperation Have
Displaced All
y Competition
THREE EXAMPLES
New System is Tested
in the City of
Blackfoot

People who have been studying
the matter of newspaper consolida-
ti0n and asking whether it were
really possible to have q consoli-
dated newspaper succeeding in a
town, and without competition, and
dissatisfaction are informed that
there are such cases and that in the
towns where there are the greatest
number Of newspapers, there is u.s.
ually the greatest amount of corrup-
tion and strife. This paper has al
ready called attention to that In
former articles on the tax question
and has explained in detail just how
q multiplicity of newspapers Is sup
ported on the graft and fraudulent
operations of politicians and busi-
ness men. The more newspapers
there are in the community, the
more they are forced to resort to un-
fair means and to corruption to sus-
tain themselves. The more there is
of that kind of stuff going on in a
community or a county, the harder
1t is for an honest newspaper to
make living. Lewiston, Idaho is
an example of town that has only
one newspaper. For more than a
generation, the Lewiston Tribune,
Democratic in politics, has been
pointed to as one ofsthe best and
cleanest newspapers in the state,
quite honest and Independent and
very progressive. It Is published
daily, has fine job printing depart
ment. gives employment to many
people at good wages, has Ave lino-
types operating and turns out a
newspaper that the whole state is
proud Of. If 1t had a competitor it
could not do so well and could not
have developed nearly SO far. 1t
could not give the service it is CIV
ing and two papers together could
not give nearly so good a service as
The Tribune has been giving.
Moscow, Idaho is q town about the
size of Blackfoot. It has one news
paper, The Star-Mirror, q consolida-
tion of The Star and The Mirror,
some time ago. In newspaper par
lance the size and volume Of plant
and its business are measured by the
number of presses and linotypes they
have. The Star-Mirror has two limo
types and q very complete job print
ing establishment. The people of
Moscow patronize the home printing
plant and that keeps up quite an in
dustry in that little town.
.4.I A Great Success g9r..
North Yakima, Wash, is a town
about three times the size of Black
foot. It has one newspaper estab-
lishment and 1t turns out very fine
daily paper, one in the morning and
one in the evening. It has very
large job printing establishment and
not only does the printing Of the
community, but it draws so much
trade from the other places around
It that It sustains a larger industry
than 1t could otherwise do. The
Yakima newspaper has either seven
or eight linotypes and 1t has the fin
est automatically fed job presses in
the world. The organization was
built up by one man, and while he is
the king Of the institution, the or
ganization works so smoothly the
newspaper is so fair, SO thoro and SO
satisfactory in the field 1t covers that
the Yakima people are not only
pleased with their newspaper but are
very proud Of 1t.
What can be done in Lewiston by
q Democratic paper for q generation,
what can be done in Moscow with
its consolidation for number Of
years, what can be done in North
Yakima building up an unusually
large industry, could be done in
Blackfoot If the people took a notion
to- do 1t. Blackfoot is losing the
printing industry to five different
cities. II it is organized on a con-
solidated plan 1t would soon be doing
all the business for its own COM
munity and be drawing some busi-
ness from other towns. For years
business has been offered to the
Blackfoot printers which they could
not handle because none Of them are
well enough equipped to handle 1t,
and while there is such fierce COM
petition they dare not buy the rest |
Of the equipment needed to complete
the various kinds OF work.
gaa How It IL Done
A good many people who are