In late September, the Portland Oregonian carried a syndicated column by Chicago Daily News Writer Mike Royko lambasting the average automobile salesman as a "sneaky liar" and lamenting the fact that "the cornerstone of our economy is based on double-talking, deceitful confidence men." Warming to his subject, Royko added: "No other major industry takes it for granted that we know the salesmen are lying and that they know we know they are lying. Even an alderman tries to keep up an honest front."
The splenetic outburst was sent out to 100 papers but stirred up organized protest only in Portland. There the...
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