The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-27
CHI A r L Es TON.
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 81, 1869.
A State Press Assooiatio N.

|
State Press Association.
1t is proposed by the Anderson Intelli
gencer, the Barnwell Journal, and other
country papers, that convention be held
in Charleston at an early day for the pur-
pose or 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 ia
suggested that permanent organisation be
formed, 1t ie just as we'll to inquire at once
what in reason 1t could be expected to ac
oomplish.
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 boAh
Democratic and Republican newspapers.
Of established Republican papers in South
Carolina there are, we believe, but two
the Orangeburg News and the Darln eton
Southerner, and this last we class as Re
publican more on. account Of it's, tone and
temper of late than of any formal nreses-
sion of party faith. These twe papers, at all
events, would become members Of the. asso-
cietion if they 30 desired, and it would
seem to be impraoticable, even If it were
desirable, to form coalition for the dis
somination of any rartioulor eloss VI pvlll1-
cal principles. Every editor, confident in
his own judgment and convinced Of his own
political orthodoxy, naturally prefers to
| shape out tho 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 topies
that would remain for consideration would
be those Of general newspaper manag agemsat.
II the country press desire and are pre-
pared to establish telegraphio newa 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 telegraphio Communication, and,
doubtless, at q 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 newspap man
agement, embracing rates Of wages, and
rates Of subscription aud advertising, the
association would have but little real force.
Itisdt- liable in the extreme, for instance,
that there should, in all cases. be O 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 aecurine
newspaper proprietorsi against. loss; for q
subscription bill is, almost as difficult to
4 collect as . Doctors bill; but II there are
reasons, good or bad, which have prevented
paper, up to this time, from adopting the
cash system, they would hardly be over.
come by any resolution Of press associa:
, hon. The same may be said in regard Il
advertising rates and other kindred sub.
; jsots. -4.,a
Even supposing, however, that these OBJ
)ecuons can be overcome, gre ater diff
Guilty remains. There should be abso,ute
free trade in newspapers. Each proprieto,
should be at liberty TO Hx his own rates OF
subscription and determine the price al
which he can afford to sell his advertis;ne
space. Ii he likes to give away his paper
and charge treble rates for his advertise.
nents, it is his affair and mot that ~ his
neighbors. The course pursued by THE
News 10 case in point. In january, 1868.
the subscription price Of TEE DAILY NEWS
was reduced from $40 Per annum 10 Sc per
snnnm; but the credit system was abolished.
and tho payment sof subscriptions invarsa.
bly, in advance was required. Many Of our
contemporaries declared that it was absurd
j 70 attempt TO publish daily newspaper At
$6 year. What has been the result Our
paid oirculstion is larger to-day than ever
before, and 10 steadily and rapidly inoraas.
ing, while our oash rsseipts fsem sntsorip.
nons In 1858, svena The reduced price,
, were mnch larger than the receipts in 1867,
o. the hish price. We hava faith In cheau
ana good newspapers, aad tTy 70 show our
faith ~ our works; hut We would not pre-,
sumo TO advise any Ok our contemporaries
70 adopt the plan which we have founa %
n | wisA What vva desira fo, sar 49,. a ~ q,