The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-02-16

Genoriai OF the, Publishers, Of Ohio,
praying the General Assembly TO en-
act law requiring esrtain legal al
vertisements TO be published In two
papers, OF opposite PclItIcs, in each
county. 1t5iH rttassIiEGBaa ssot1
To the Honorable. tie General Assembly
ofthe &atse Ohio: omt5,i ri
At the Convention aof Editors and
Publishers Of the State Of Ohio, which
convened atColumbus, on Wednesday,
the 4th inst, tho undersigned were
instructed to menloriaiize the Legisla.
turo on the subject embraced in the
following resolution; ga III sfT
oReso1yed, Thatacommittec Of lArss
be Appoi:tea TO me:nofislizs theiLe-
gisIature, recommending that body TO
pass 40 act prosidirg for the pabljcs-
tion, in at least two papers OF opposite
politics, in each Comfy (but when
Efbere are no partSpapers, then in two
others Of the most gen ersl circulation
published therein ail Sheriff anu Mas
ter Commissioner Sales; the Annual
Tax Notice Of the County Traasurers !;
the Delinquent and Forfeited Lists
Times OF Holding Courts; Eheritf :
Election PFeelahatioBs Bridge 10.
tices Exhibit Of the Receipts and Ex-
p.ndltures OF the County ,kGceipts
mud Expenditures Of the County Ia.
frmarics, and other legal notices Of
general interest not herein enumerat-
Cd" ' '' ..a
For tie ia-... t....irty years, legs! I'd
/ vertisements have been published. in
this STATE, as a gene"al rne, bot for
the public benefit, but to reward The
services Of party editors. IAe lay re.
quires, by fair construction. the pub
lication Of legal notices in papcr 81
tbe most general circulation in each
County. This end is often defeated b.
advertising in party organs Of obscure
character & very limited subscription
lists The principle is universaIly y re.
cognised throughout tho State, in re-
lspect TO advertising, that TO the 7ic.
tors belong the spoils;' hence i. is,
that County officers, who control the
advertising patronage, bestow it Oh
: their own party organs, without any
regard to the superior circulation oI
the rival political papers. an implied
understanding generally exists, that
+ as condition OF editorial support, thl
officer, if elected, is 70 advertise cx.
clusively in his own party press
Every candid publisher in the State
viii admit the truth OF this statement
The contest between editors and can.
didates Of opposing parties is greatly
intensified in consequence Of an inde
cent scramble for adv vertisiiigand other
"spoils." The public good is entirely
ignored. This also accounts for the
fact that, in certain counties, parties
remain unchanged for long period o
years. The officer who enjoys Ia
position, and the printer VINO feeds q
the public crib, are alike Indifferent I,
the public veal when it affects thei
interest and party preponderance.-
Divide the public advertising between
, papers Of opposite politics, and you a
once secure the independence Of th'
, press and the County officers /
would then be i matter Of indifference
, which party, in u given County, tile,
the County offices. The only question
with the people in reference 10 th
candidates would be, not is he a De
mocrat, not is he Union Man, bu
lis lie honest? Is he capable Is h
faithful to the Constitution - lis Ii
, true to his country?' Nearly all til
strife in politics, in this country, ant
which has eliminated in rebellion an
i, civil war, may be referred to th
scramble for place and "spciis.'
has been a constant battle betwcel
the "ins" and the :outs," from tn
Presidency to Constable Of Town
ship, until, in whole States, District:
and Counties, the love of party and it
rev ards, in the shape Of official emolu
> ments, have taken the place of love {
country. We might greatly ampIi.
this view Of the subject, but contcl
ourselves with these brief aIiusions.
The utility and advantage Of adrel
tising is acknowledged BY tie Legs
lature in ordering the publication
' certain advertisements in one paper i
8 ea3h County. If there are good re;
sons for publishing in one paper, the
= arc still stronger for t1Eo or more,
- the object is general publicity, til
can better be accomplished, in thes
d party times, by inserting advertise
ments in two papers of opposite pol
:, tics. A Sheriffs sale, for example,
published in a Democratic paper is Sc
It dom read by a Union or Republica
reader, and, consequently, the inter
/, ton of the law and the interests oftI
[. parties to the sale are sacrificed, n,
thing is more common, in reference
}, property offered for sale than this cl
It dorsement by the Sheriff-"Not sol
for want of bidders" And why?-
= Because the advertisement. was onl
!. seen Dy q part Of tie people, where's
if it had been inserted in two papers
: opposite politics It would have bee
/ read by the rhole, and much cost an
delay obviated. We have heard of il
J. stances, indeed, where papers Of vel
!. limited circulation have been selectC
for the corrupt purpose of preventir
l. a sale at all, thus defeating the ends
the law and rights of creditors.
). has been suggested that one papor
l the largest circulation might be selet
ed. This would be better than &
present practice, but it would still n