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

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lths former Undsr tho existing law,
the Sheriff may advertise in two or
more papefs, but be seldom docs; be-
cause he regards IL as his Interest to
build up his party pfeas and cripple
its rival Inourj adgmsnt, no officer
should be armed with this power, and
the onlyway TO destroy Il Is 70 pursue
the course We have indicated.
| In regard 70 othcr official publica!
tons, II the object Is 70 convey infor-
patton to the 7masscs sofbthol peoples
how can this be accom- oIished except,
By making the insertion Of thenotlcOe,
imperative in at least two county pa.
| pers, representing different partiesf
The additional cost for their insertion
is more than couuter-balancedj by tbe
advantages of wider publicity. No
class Of meo understand this argpt:
ment better than merchants and 9th
ers who advertise in the several party
papers with the view oi reachingthe
largest number Of readerso Eg2avs ~
! The, advertisements enumerated in
the above resolution are. especially
proper to be inserted in two or more
| papers, for they generally concern the
entire public. aA'F = ifs1' yas % u
aAsthe majority of those ADVERTISE
ments are paid from tie County Treas
ury. ii is manifestly unfair that, the
people Of alI parties should be taxed
FOR the support Of an exclusive party
organ. They would chekrHliy bear
the additional ta<atien TO- render the
support OF the press, 10 ihis particular,
equitable. -, -
II the Legislature should enact d
INV in accordance With the resolution
Of the Publish ers' CUWontion, we, do
not doubt that there will be materi-
ai reduction in the printing account
in each gCounty. TIE Exhibition OF
the Receipts and Expenditures in maA
lny Counties. shows that by collusion
between the party printer and the
party officers very exorbitant charges
are permitted. The course we pro-
pose, by rendering the officer inde-
pendent Of the editor, world result in
rigid scrlliny of printers, bills, ahdG
considerable saving to the tax,pay.
era. ..I. i..- ......,,.,. q; -,s-,,
fhcro Is another point We wish to
present, viz: A party organ seldom
scrutihiZes or exposes the official con-
duet OF the officer who hudits his bills,
even thorgh he be galty Of malfcas-
ance. And why2 Because such q
course would "injure the party" throw
the printer into tie minority. and
eventually deprive him Of thedpubiie
printing. On the other hand, the Au-
ditor aud Commissioners rarely reject
q printers bill, no matter how unrea-
sonable. because they erpect 10, be pHi9
for tie Jaror ty ssdt6us support dt tie
neJt electiont -s.s--. 4r +k
Much has been written and spoken
in regard 70 the freedom ofthe press"
bat how can the press be really free
when tinrhnieIcd BY party allegiance,
, and melted ~ action by the "cohesive
power Of public-pIunder" Let tho
: public advertising be divided, and we
, guarantees that there will soon be q
. visible improvement in the freedom"
= ii the country press. Nor it is free to
: heap wholesale abuse Oh political 6b-
= iponents, but theR it would turn its
batteres on wrong,doers ofall parties.
: It's liberal patronage that makes the
. press free When it depends on party
, "spoils" for existence, it, Of course, is
servilc and unjust in its comments on
t public men and measures.
t without multiplying words fur
, tfcr on this subject, we will add :
r /. That The insertion of the Sheriff
: and Muster Commissioners sales II,
\ two papers in each County would be
greatly to the advantage of plaintiff
G and defendant. because their greater
I publicity would invite a much, larger
c number Of rival bidders. .......
/ Q. That all the other advertisements
d enumerated in the resolution are cf
{ such public concern as to render it
= improper to confne their publication
t to single party newspaper. ,..,,
G g. That the division OF this patron
c age equally among the papers Of the
c State would not only be right In itself,
d but, at the same time, do much to in
d crease their independence and useful
c ness.
Z 4. That It would soften political as
n perties and give dignity 10 party dis
e cussions, ........ .. .....,,
j. 3 That the County officers who dis
4. pcnso this patronage would themselves
s be relieved from the embarrassment
/ OF Dispensing party "spoils' without
,i regard 10 the public interests.
y q. Thatthc augmented cost Of adver.
II tising would be choerfuly borne by
the people and suitors, in consequence
r. !oi tie efc8ler advantage Of general
5 publicity. .a os-..
of We therefore, in behalf Of the press
n Of Ohio, representing all political par
/ ties pray your honorable body to en-
V act n law in accordance with the rec
Ii ommcnlation oftho foregoing rcsold.
is tion. .
ie ". II. P. DENNY,
y SAMUEL PIKE,
/. A. p. MILLER,
if Committee.