The Night Kennewick Didn't Show

Two weeks ago, in a spirit of sarcasm, we thanked the people of Kennewick for their help in making the Finley Fair a financial success. Last week two readers took sturdy exception to our remarks, proving our sarcasm a failure, so we are going to explain in plain English.

For several years the Finley Grange has gone ahead with its work and we believe has been of material good to the community without asking a cent of aid from anyone. Recently a piano was purchased and in order to help out the funds two or three entertainments were planned. Chief among these was the Finley Fair. In discussing it a difference of opinion arose among the members of the committee in charge over the purchasing of the supplies. One member in particular held out against buying them at home, declaring that not one cent would we receive in return. “You take it from me,” said he, “they’ll all come out if it’s free, but if they have to spend a quarter, you won’t get a soul out of Kennewick. If you’ll go across the river to Pasco and spend $25.00 and let them know what you are doing, I’ll wager you’ll get a dozen men over here who will spend some money with us, and I’ll also wager you won’t get a man out of Kennewick.” “You’re the worst knocker in the valley,” replied another one. “We’ll make ’em come out.” “I’d like to have you tell me how you’re going to do it,” answered the first. “Well, I’ll tell you how. We’ll get out some handbills, we’ll advertise in the theatre, and each one of us will call up our friends and ask them to come. You’ll see. They’ll be out in force.” “Have it your way,” said the first, “but remember what I’m telling you.”

And so they went ahead—spent about $6.00 in advertising, and near $30.00 in supplies, making a total of a little over $35.00, and then what? Mr. Knocker was absolutely right, and we’ve had to listen to him gloat “what did I tell you?” ever since, for one young man brought his mother and one young fellow brought his girl, and that was the size of the Kennewick crowd. The Valley club house gave an oyster supper earlier in the evening and the young man and his mother were the sole representatives from Kennewick, so they fared even worse.

The Kennewick business men are strong community boosters when the community boosted is Kennewick. And when we go to town and spend a dollar they are experts at telling us what good fellows we are and how they appreciate that Kennewick is absolutely dependent upon the farmer, but when we ask them to come down and spend a quarter with us, every auto in town is in the repair shop.

And so the farmer is forced to the conclusion that the Kennewick business men care absolutely nothing for him except when he is in town spending his money. Under the circumstances, can he be blamed for sending to Seattle, to Portland, or to Chicago for his supplies when he can make a material saving by doing so?

We don’t advocate trading away from home. We are staunch believers in community work, but we do say that Kennewick makes about the poorest showing possible in community spirit. One firm, The Produce Co., felt guilty and made apology by sending a $5.00 check for our piano fund, but the rest—?