The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-12-13
Ths Reason Why there are SO many

.
The Reason why there are so many
Newspaper Failures.
In a recent excellent address be-
fore the Press Association of Ten
nessee, Gen. George p. Jones of the
Nashville UatOn and AmeTiean, gave
the following truthful account of
newspaper mortality: a1
We do too much work without
compensation. We pay too much
money without any returns Whatev-
eT. We establish an eleemosinary
institution at our own expense. We
keep a charity school on our own
hook. We conduct business as if
we owe the public everything and
the public are not indebted to us
one farthing. We are preyed upon
by sharpers and the innocent alike.
We advertise gratuitously every
week, when we should have money
for it. The general public are ig-
norsnt--probably we ourselves are
not fully aWare-of the extent to
which newspapers are burdened by
this insiduous drain upon our re-
sources. 1t insinuates itselfin every
conceivable form. 1t does it through
reporters, through agents, through
correspondents, through editors,
through business managers, through
proprietors, and generally, too, with
as much disadvantage to the public
as the press. There is not a bust
ness, from the dispenser Of ginger
cakes and cider to the largest man
ufactory, which will not advertise
with you gratis-which will, if you
listen to it, endeavor to convince
yon that it is your duty to the public
to do so. There is not an aspirant
for public station-and when / con
template the numbers Of these I
experience an overwhelming sense
OF commingled amazement and dis
gust-from constable to Senate OF
the Union, who does not conscien-
tiously believe it to be the impera-
tive duty of the press, daily and
weekly, to speak with q pen of tcle-
scopic power of his microscopic de-
servings. Even that army OF stroll
ers which infests the country and
the people as a sort of visitation of
Providence for our iniauities, from
the street corner seller of prize candy
or magic OIL to the operatic impris-
sario, will expect you to write an
indefinite number of editorials on a
three-square advertisement inserted
for five days, chaDgeable daily, with
out charge. We are required to
write up, urge up, and put through
every enterprise, great or small, that
Stems to have a possible connection
with the public. But we never hear
of a share of stock, or OF a dividend.
The Church, the State, commerce, in
dustry, art, invention, and humbug
alike seem to regard the press as
their servitors, and to be run and
sustained for their advantage.
There is line of demsrcation in
all things between public demand,
public utility, newspaper duty and
individual gain. That line should
be defined and held, as it in reality
is, the Dead Line. Not letter nor
a space nor a figure, not comma
nor period, nothing of all the in
Vulnerable particles that enter into
the form and structure of a daily or
weekly newspaper, that its picking
up and putting down does not cost
cash money, Not 4 revolution of
the press, not a square inch of pa
per, that does not cost something in
cash. This should be understood
by the public. Ifit is not, its cor
relative should be practiced by the
press. lido not mean that the press
should abandon its position of be-
ing the foremost charitable institu-
ton in the world. 1t should hold to
that for its munifcent iberality, af-
ter purging itself of nine tenths of
the daily swindles practiced upon it,
viii exceed that of any other bust
ness. IAN r-
To get rid of this stupendous
fraud of gratuitous advertising, this
cancer. canker-call it itanything, pro-
vided you select an epithet that will |
it strongly enough-I |
can prescribe no other rule than this
Pu4 voluntarily, and without charge |
any and everything into your paper
which you deem advantageous to it |
in being beneficial to the public. ALI |
else exclude, being of advantage to
those who wish to make money up-
on yovr capital and enterprise.
Hold you space at its value. Fix
your rates at a fair price for your
circulation, and adhere to them. |
Fair dealing will accomplish more
than foul at slltimes and everywhere.
For be it known that the American
press is is not vampire,
10 be constantly sucking
theIlife- blood of the people. It has
3 vastly higher mission; but it should
also be known that it will not longer
be made the victim of the thousands
of vampires that come daily to the
in every conceivable garb,
10 have its life-blood incontinently |
sucked away.
Nitro-GlYcerine.
The recent nitro-glycerine explosion near
Yonkers, n. Y, exhibits In strong light the