Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-05-19
AlEyA GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER,
Remarks by q Kentucky Editor.

The Mount Sterling Journal, referring to
tbe recent address upon Journalism" deiv-
cred before the Indiana Editorial Convention
by Mr.. Watterson, says:
That portion Of the address devoted to coun-
trv journalism is very good 80 far as it goes,
but then it stops short OF the sore that works
more harm to and cripples and ultimately kills
anore couutry papers than all other causes com
bined. Our experience has been long and
varied, and what We have to say about country
newspaper publishing is based upon Knowledge
dearly bought by years of hard and thankless
toll and 90 little worry Of body and mind and
vexation of spirit. t
The greatest enemies to success in conduct.
ing q newspaper are the credit system and
gratuitous advertising or putting"
The dues Of the newspaper publisher are ne
cessariy small. IF he credits couple Of dol
lars here to A. a couple of dollars there to B,
and SO ou through the alphabet of subscription,
these creditors will amount to handsome SUM
in the aggregate of which fearfulIy large per
cent. invariably proves to be total loss.
The publisher who will credit subscriptions,
transient advertising and job work, knowing
that he is compelled to pay cash for his mate
rial, has no right to complain that his business
does not pay, and of all men has less cause to
be astonshed at the necessity that compels the.
suspension of his paper. p1A
Another thing to avoid: Gratutous work
for party candidates They have no right to
expect it. Office is inseparably connected with
salary. And the salary is what nine out OF ten
candidates are after The candidate has as.
much right to expect his tailor to keep him 10
clothing without charge, as to expect q pub
Usher to devote his paper to bis gorifcation.
Make the politicians pay the same as other ad-
vertsers and never allow line of puff to
appear iu your paper without pay. Your mer-
chant or grocer does not expect to supply your
family from their stores without pay, and they
have no right to expect you to advertise TOR
them without remuneration. Selling goods or
groceries is their mode of making a living.
Publishing newspaper is your mode Of max
iug living. They can not give their goods
space in your paper without loss. That which
will beggar them will beggar you That's the
whole truth OF it. '@y
10 the days when We used to devote column
after column to the business of elevating Tom,
Dick and Harry to Office simply because they
belonged to our party, and never dreamed OF
asking cent Of pay tor our services; 80 long as
We filled our papers with puffs of This, That
and the other, because they we're good, clever
fellows, and did it for nothing, we found it the
hardest matter in the world to get along. But
since We turned over a new leaf, and made
real business OF publishing paper, just as Tom
Dick, and Harry make business of running
for office for the emoluments, and This, That
and the Other make business Of selling goods
for the profit, We have prospered. To be sure
we have not as yet accumulated mammoth
fortune, but then we have built us up a good
paying business, secured US home we are not
ashamed Of, and are able to pay our way as we
90. Under the old system we scarcely made
enough to pay our bitd bill snd prGsde us
for our labor, live deceDtly and have no cause
to complain Of the world. And SO it will be
with all of our brethren of the country press if
they will do as we are doing -eschew all gra-
tnitous work and cut the credit system absolu-
falp n-.-. !.