Vacation from News

In the middle of a press run, A.F.L. pressmen at Portland's afternoon Oregon Journal (circ. 195,150) had climbed out of their ink-stained overalls, changed into street clothes and struck for a $2.50-a-week raise. At the morning Oregonian (circ. 218,400), the pressmen also walked out. By last weekend, Portland (pop. 363,141) had been without daily papers for nine days--and it didn't like the strange experience.

Without newspaper ads, there was a big slump in business at theaters, restaurants and clothing stores. Radio stations were carrying more news and more advertising, and two small weekly papers had switched to dailies, but they were not up to the job of telling the news. Not all Portlanders missed their newspapers. Some thought no news of the world's troubles was good news--at least for a while. Said a grocer: "Nothing's upset me all week. It's been mighty peaceful."

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