The Price of Printing: A Local Paper’s Battle Against State Monopolies
An Ellensburg editor demands the state stop overpaying for printing contracts, arguing that local newspapers are being squeezed out of business.
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.
The Dawn wants to go on record as favoring the abolition of the office of state printer unless it is owned and operated by the state. The idea of electing a state printer and allowing him to charge such prices as he sees fit—competing in the furnishing of blanks and printed matter with every printing office in the state, especially the paper offices, who work unceasingly for the election of the county ticket and in most cases with no assistance whatever from the candidates, is a gross injustice. Very few men were ever elected to office in counties outside of the cities who ever appreciated the assistance rendered by the press let alone paying anything. And, when in need of job work of any kind for their respective offices, if they give the same to the paper that championed their election, they think it a great favor, and if they should send their work to the cities, they think the home printers are fools to object. The state printer's office is one of the best paying offices in the state and one of the biggest monopolies. The state should either own and operate the plant or abolish the office and let the work out to the lowest bidder.
“Very few men were ever elected to office in counties outside of the cities who ever appreciated the assistance rendered by the press let alone paying anything.”
This editorial captures the eternal struggle of local media attempting to stay solvent while navigating political relationships. Just as the editor calls for transparency in state contracts, modern local journalism faces similar pressure from consolidated tech platforms and state-level policy decisions that impact the viability of community news.
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