American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-06-22

form a customer that a certain piece
of cloth is worth 81 per yard, and
consents, after little persuasion
or dictation, to take % cents per yd.
either does not understand his bust
ness or comes by his stock of goods
in such a way that he must necessa-
rily either cheat his customers or his
creditors. And, while he continues
to have customers, they will under
stand the advantage of "drivlng a
bargain" Your committee, there
fore, recommend that the several
members of this Association at once
examine, and revise, if necessary,
their advertising rates so as to be
just to themselves and liberal to the
agent and the public and then, hav-
ing thus determined their rates, to
adhere firmly to them. We recon-
mend that these rates be published
in the paper, and that a printed slip
embracing the same be furnished to
each local agent, recognised by the
publisher OF by this Association, at
the same time notifying them that
any proposition below such terms
will not only receive no cOnsidera-
ton by the publisher, but will be
regarded as an impertinent dictatiOn
Your committee most cordially
commend the suggestions of our
worthy President touching the in
sertiOn of advertisements and notices
of an immoral, indecent and swind-
ling character. These should not
receive circulation or cOuntenance
on any terms. All matter, whether
for the reading or advertising col
umns, should be carefully scanned,
and it's effect upon the reader duly
considered. The "Uses and Abuses
of the Press" should be a matter of
more concern with those who con-
[ duct such a powerful agent for good
or evil. The newspaper is not only
read by the politician, the merchant
and the mechanic, but it is emphat-
lcally a privileged character, and
finds it's way, as q welcome visitor,
to the social circle and the family
fireside. Its pages, therefore, should
be elevated and pure, and no inch of
space in any department should con-
tain matter calculated to deceive,
mislead or offend good morals or
good taste.
Your committee are of opinion
that certain suggestions which have
been made in the discussions of the
Association, should be reduced to
the shape of definite action, and
hence we recommend the several
journals composing this body will
charge usual advertising rates for
all obituary notices, tributes of re-
spect, and communications of per-
sOnal character, or such as are de-
signed to promote business or Off
cial interests. These free demands
upon the columns of the press are
sometimes SO numerous as to he a
very great hardship to the publish
er, whose first duty is to the great
mass of his readers, and any tres
pass upon the variety of matter
prepared for their edification, to
that extent detracts from the inter-
est of his journal as general news
paper. 1t is believed thai these
suggestions will be appreciated by
the public, and that those who may
W ISL " NC kIhtIucu VI ScEN GU LDTOuRu
the public press will contribute their
quota to sustain the same.
In reference to advertising agen-
cies, your committee are only pre-
pared to endorse such as have prov
ed faithful. and to repudiate such
as have proved unfaithful to their
obligations and contracts to any
of the members Of this body
Among the latter are conspicuous :
Thomas Tardrew, of New York.
E. c. Wharton s. Co. New Orleans.
Mccormick s Lyon, st. Louis
and without wishing to depreciate
other agents who may be faithful
and correct. we desire to express
our entire confidence in the RELIABLE
ity and prOmptDess Of
8. NJ. Pettingill & Co. New York.
Geo. p. ROwell & Co.
Griffin & Hoffman, Baltimore.
Th0s. Mcintyre, New Orleans.