The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-27
CHI AT S TON.
TUESDAY MORNING. APRIL 27, 1869.
A State Press Association.

A State Press Association.
II is proposed by the Anderson Intelli-
gencer, the Barnwel Journal, and other
country papers, t:'at convention be held
in Charleston at an early day for the pur-
pose of forming State Press Association.
Doubtless it is pleasant for the members
of the press, who are working in common
cause and for the good of their people, to
meet together and consider the questions of
the day, and discuss what measures are
most likely to advance the interests of the
craft. An interchange of opinions, and the
more thorough understanding which grows
out of personal intercourse, are always
valuable and to be desired. But when it is
suggested that's permanent organization be
formed, it ia just as well to inquire at once
what in reason it could be expected to ac
oomplish. Co. "a
In political matters it would seem that
the proposed association would be of no
avail, because to be the representative of.
the press of the State it must include both
Democratic and Republican newspapers.
Of established Republican papers in South
J Carolina there are, we believe, but two
the Orangeburg News and the Darlington
Southerner, and this last we class as Re-
publican more on account of its tone and
temper Of late than of any formal profess
sion Of party faith. Thea, two papers, at all
events, would become members Of the asso-
citation if they so desired, and it would
seem to be imprscticable, even if it were
desirable, to form coalition for the dis
semination of any particular class Of politi-
cal principles Every editor, confident in
b5 BIZ naFHRSsaNS sed 8aaaAHRRHsa f Ah 8H
shape out the policy of his own paper, and
none, we presume, would be disposed to
follow the line which convention might
choose to mark out. Things political, then,
being counted out, the only practical topics
that would remain for consideration would
he those Of general newspaper management.
If the country press desire and are pre-
pared to establish telegrsphic news sys-
tenn for the State, arrangements might
probably be made to accomplish that end.
A distributing agent at Charleston could
send news to all points with which
there is telegraphic communication, and,
doubtless, at moderate cost. We do not
know, however, whether anything Of the
kind is wanted, and can only assure our
contemporaries that in this matter we would
give them, with or without an association,
ell the assistance in our power.
And in regard to general newspaper man
agement, embracing rates Of wages, and
rates of subscription aud advertising, the
association would have but little real force.
1t is desirable in the extreme, for instance,
that there should, in sll cases, be rigid
adherence to the system of requiring pay
ment of subscriptions in adavnoe. The
proprieters of THE News adopted this plan
more than twelve months ago, and it has
proved signal success There can be but
one opinion as to its advantages in securing
newspaper proprietors against loss; for o
subscription bill is almost as difficult to
collect as Doctors BILL but if there are
reasons, good or bad, which have prevented
a paper, up to this time, from adopting the
cash system, they would hardly be over.
come by any resolution of press associa-
ton. The same may be said in regard IL
advertising rates and other kindred sub.
jects.
Even supposing, however, that these oh
jections can be overcome, o gre ater diff
Guilty remains. There should be absolute
free trade in newspapers. Each proprietor
should be at liberty to fix his own rates Of
subscription and determine the price OF
which he can afford to sell his advertising
space. If he likes to give away his paper
and charge treble rates for his advertise
ments, it is his affair and not that of his
neighbors. The course pursued by The
NEWS is case in point. In January, 1868,
the subscription price Of TIE DAILY NEWS
was reduced from $40 per annum to Sc per
annum; but the credit system was abolished,
and the payment of subscriptions invaria-
bly, in advance was required. Many of our
contemporaries declared that it was absurd
to attempt to publish a daily newspaper at
Sc year. What has been the result? Our
paid circulation is larger to-day than ever
before, and is steadily and rapidly increas-
ing, while our cash receipts from subscrip.
tions in 1868, even at the reduced price,
were much larger than the receipts in 1867,
st the high price. We have faith in cheap
and good newspapers, and try to show our
faith by our works; hut we would not pre.
sumo to advise any Of our contemporaries
to adopt the plan which We have found 30
wise. What we desire to say, then, is that
the proposed association, in our opinion,
could do no practical good, unless it could
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