The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1860-02-08
The Credit System of Newspapers.


The Credit System of Newspapers.
.5cglT
The following sensible and truthfu1lex.
tract is taken from the oration of .Mr
Denny at the Editorial ConventionIreeens-
ly held at Tinin. It is no gexaggefatiou,
but plain honest statement of facts which
are we'll known to the publishers of every
newspaper which does credit bnsinesasl
"The greatest afflction of the country
printer, is the Credit System. r It,ought
to be abandoned at once. There is no
class of men but printers that extend
years credit; and no business in existence
can flourish by such au extension of credit.
Most merchants demand cash for tfeir
goods when purchased, and they are right;
and none give more than three months
credit Farmers require cash down9or
every article they sell. Paper makers,
grown independent in consequence Of the
great demand for paper, sell exclusively
for cash Type.founders, grown wise.
because often feeced by bankrupt.
ters, will have nothing bu: the s'readyn IL
six month bank note, with responsible
endorsers. Journeymen, when they are
lucky enough to be employed, or boys
working at half-rates, must be spaii.-
The grocer, tee butcher, the tailor, tho
merchant, have all caught the cash infec-
tion, and nothing but American Gold OF
the notes of specie-paying banks will sat.
isfy them. How is it possible, then, that
the country printer hedged about as he
is on all sides by demands for cash. can
maintain the credit system? The Daily
Press, published in the great cities, have
long since abandoned it; so have the east
ern and western religious and literary
journals. Why, then do the country prini
ters of Ohio hesitate to initiate their ex-
ample? Why persist in sending farmer
your paper for year or more, on credit,
when he won't trust you day for bush
el of wheat. load of wood or pound of
butter? If you charge 81 so per yeaffor
: your paper, it costs you one third of it to
chase, capture and compel, coax or en-
treat. the fugitive from justice to pay you.
Every publisher is compelled to neglect
: his business, perhaps one third ofthe yeal,
in the business of running down subscri-
: bers. Like Nimrod of old they are
"mighty hunters" bnt unlike him, they
capture but little game. but generally re.
: turn from the chase with more chicks than
u coppers.'" The only remedy for thisin-
tolerable grievance, is the adoption, of
the Cash System. 1, therefore recon-
: mend to my brethren here assembled and
to every country publisher in the State,
that on the Fourth day of July next.
they declare their independence, and re-
: solve not to issue another paper, after that
date, unless paid for in advance Give
v your patrons six months notice OF. your
I intention; argue the case with them; shoR
the absolute necessity of the step, and
y then, when the time arrives, sfrikesevery
q delinquent, in the political parlance Of
u 1s40, from the Nottingham list" The
Cleveland Herald, few years ago, after
8 short notice, discontinued eighteen hmm.
, dred; but in less than six months. they
were nearly all back again, and the pub
"a fishers received hundreds of commsnds
IL tory notices for their course. 5,.r,...
~ In establishing the advance system,
IL would not advise reduction of the pric
ofthe paper. My experience proves, tha
~ it ought to be increased rather than din
inished. The circulation of the local pa
Nc pers rarely exceeds thousand. If yo
y ask $3.50 per annum for your papers an
Il should reduce the price to ST., your los
'u would be $500. How would you be RI
q imbursedi By increased subscription
u and more advertising? Every printer-wh
>" has tried it has been skinned. The ide'
u of competing with the dollar papers. il
'u the great cities, is ridiculous. As wei
Do might village retail merchant attempt 4
sell goods as low as the millionair
Us Wholesale merchant from whom he boyea
SO The country paper, in local affairs, SUP
d plies want that no foreign paper ca
furnish, and hence it is worth to ever
e. citizen of the country double its valu,
le whatever that may be. To make pd
per good, like everything else. it must
!" patronized. How great would be the il
aT conveniences, if there were no county pa
pers. and yet, not more than one fourt
ue of the voters would patronize them"