The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1943-02-04

drive passengers from Grand Gen.
trail to midtown department store,
remind me of the days when I was
a very cubby reporter in Kenton,
Ohio. We had two cab lines, each
of which represented one of the
towns two leading hotels. Compe-
tition was keen to say the least. The
actual soliciting was done by the
hotel porters. To keep them from
swarming all over arrivals, they
were forced to toe line painted on
the station platform. There were
no restrictions on shouting, however,
so the calls, Hotel Weaver" and
"St. Nicholas" arose loudly as soon
as train began to stop. The hack
drivers, though they had their minds
on business, took no part in the
shouting. They merely maintained
a dignified silence. Nor did they
help with the baggage. But on the
way up town, the drivers drove by
their respective livery stables so
the owners could count the load.
Most of those who came to our
town were travelling statesmen. The
regulars had their favorite hotels
and automatically stepped up to the
right porter, That, however, did
not prevent solicitation. Such en-.
croachment was resented bitterly
and if recollection serves, there
were a number of battles as re-
suit Nevertheless, it persisted. The
porter received no commission for
the trade he brought to the hotel
which employed him. His reward
was merely the joy of accomplish
ment. Or maybe satisfaction in put
ting over something on a rival
was pay enough. Be all that as it
may, whenever a train came In,
there was the same old strife. And
when a porter-one was Red Mac
Donald but I can't remember the
name of the otker-landed some new
trade, the look he gave his COM
petitor was something to be remem-
bered. Also the look on the face OF
the defeated solicitor.
Hackmen didn't do much business
at the Big Four station since the
st. Nicholas, which burned a little
while ago, was right alongside the
tracks and the Weaver. only two
short blocks distant, thus chance
for travelling salesmen-we called
them drummers-to work a little on
the expense account. Townsfolk
usually were met by members of
their families or friends with horses
and buggies. So the pickings were
slim. Business was better at the
Ohio Central station, down by the
Scioto, but the Erie was the best
stand of all, that station being full
mile from the square, so no drum
mers did any walking. All that be-
ing true, the Erie was the scene OF
fercest competition with a lot OF
hard looks and not infrequently,
name calling.
The hack fare, even from the
Erie, was only Is cents per passen-
ger to any point in town. The night
rates were the same so that when
town boys and girls dressed up to
60 to formal party, they called
hacks to come to the door and de-
liver them at their destination. I'm
righteous citizens, taken by hard
liquor late at night and therefore
unable to trust their legs, merely
called a hack and were not only de-
livered at their homes but often
were helped inside for a two-bit
piece. There were no tips. 1t is
my belief that had anyone offered
Johnny Ellis tip it would have
been refused with great scorn.
AS a Daily News-Republican re-
porter, had the privilege OF riding
free to and from trains. So did
Charley Kelley of the Daily Demo-
crat. The rivalry extended even to
dead heads, 30 one. day we rode in a
Powell hack and the next day in a
Southland. The porter rode up on the
box with the driver, hence was al
ways sure of a seat. When cash
customers filled both hacks, Charley
and I had to seek other transpor-
tation. The baggage wagon was our
refuge. The baggage wagon didn't
leave until all the trunks had been
loaded So often there was delay.
But we had only one edition which
went to press when all the news was
in type. so we didn't worry.
The hackmen with their horses
and ancient vehicles at the Grand
Central terminal in these days OF
rationed gasoline and no rubber, are
all old-timers whose memories 60
back to days when there were no
taxis. Among them is Frank Nc
Cam who 40 years ago used to hack
at that same stand who in all, has
been hackman for half century.
Bell Syndicate-WNU Features.