The Cable Car King vs. The Free Press
A transit monopoly manager attempts to bully a newspaper into silence by pulling advertisements after they report on poor service.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Manager W. S. Dimmock of the Tacoma Railway & Power Company has sent a letter to The Tacoma Times peremptorily withdrawing his company's advertisements. Mr. Dimmock, who initially offered transportation courtesies to the paper in its infancy, became infuriated after the Times reported on the company's rotten cable road, continual service stoppages, and the refusal to refund fares to stranded passengers. Instead of improving his service, Dimmock threatened the paper and declared it could no longer do business with his corporation. The Times states that it has printed only the truth regarding the miserable service and the political meddling of Dimmock’s lieutenants, and thus has no apologies to offer. The paper will continue to hold the line until the corporation stops its interference in the city council and provides the adequate service its franchise requires.
“Mr. Dimmock's ownership of the city will be disputed by the people and by The Times.”
The tension between transit utilities and local oversight is a recurring theme in Tacoma's history. Just as Dimmock tried to use his advertising budget to mute criticism in 1904, current debates over public transit and private utility accountability frequently mirror these same struggles for civic transparency.
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