But as the dispute continues, the danger is that it will ultimately march Seattle into the growing ranks of one-newspaper towns.

While other industries shrank to increase efficiency in a more competitive world, many cities became one-newspaper towns, allowing the surviving paper to expand rapidly.

But while Chattanooga becomes a one-newspaper town, it will keep two editorial voices.

But now the state is fighting to keep Honolulu from becoming a one-newspaper town.

San Francisco is beginning to look like another one-newspaper town.

Newspapers in one-newspaper towns may do well by doing better, since readers can't desert to another paper.

Stockton, Kan., is a one-newspaper town again.

"I have dealt with one-newspaper towns and, believe me, you don't have much leverage in dealing with them," Ms. Victor went on.

"I don't think that says anything about Kansas City," he said, citing a long trend toward one-newspaper towns.

"I think a one-newspaper town is terrible," he said.