Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-02-11
The Bane Of Newspapers.

The remarks of Gen. Geo. 2. Jones. of the
Nashville I"ion .e american, before the
Press Association of Tennessee, are so truth
ful and apply with such force to this com-
munity that we insert them for the benefit of
newspaper proprirtOrs and those who think
they have the privilege of gratuitously using
the columas OF journal to advertise their
bus'neSs whenever they feel SO disguised
We do too much work without compensa-
tinu. We psy too much money withou, any
re'uru whatever. We establish All eIeemosy
n"rYs i0stltation at our own expense We
kceo charity school on our own bouks. We
"'ndnct business as if VIC owe everything 10
the puhilc and the public are not indebted to
us 'arthing. We are preyed upon by the
sh"rpers aud the iunocent alike. We adver-
t'Se gr"tui'nuSIy every week when We should
have the money tor it. The general public
are e"tlrrly iGuorant-- probably we Ourselves
are not fully .ware-of the extent to which
newspapers are hurdened with the insidious
drain upon their resources. 1t insinuatss
itself in every concelvtb tble form. 1t does it
through reporters, through agents, through
'rorr'"t"rs aud generally, too, with as much
di.sd"""tage t" tho public as TO the press:
There is not business, from the dispenser
Of Ginger cakes and cider to the largest manu-
gratis, which will not. if you listen to il, eu-
d"av"r tt couviuce you that it is Your duty to
the public t" do so. There is not an aspirant
for public ststi"n-and when I contemplate
the numbers OF these | experience an over
wh"'m'ng sense of cOnmDgied amnz "meut
sud d,SguSt-frnm constable to the Senate of
~" Union who does not cnnsccntiDu-ly be.
Lr"e II to he the imperative dntv Of the press,
",''v and weekly, to speak with pen of tele-
sr"p;c power Of his microscopic deservings.
Even that army of s,rolIers, which infe-t the
country and the people as a sort Of visitation
Of providence for our inqnities, from the
street corner seller of prize candy or magic
oil to the operatic iDpressario, will expect YOU
to write an Indefinite number of editorials on
three square advertisement for five days
chanyabte daily without charge We are re
Gnired tn write up, urge up. and put through
every enterprise, great or small, that seems to
have = possible connection with the pnhlic-
But we never hear Of share OF stock or Of a
dividend. The Church, the State. Corn-
inerce. Industry, Art, Invention and Hum
hug, alike seem to regard the press as their
servitorS, and to be run and sustained for
their advantage
"1hcre is line of demarcation in all these
things between public denond. public utility.
newspaper duty and individual gan. That
line should be defined and held, as it iu re-
ali'y is, the dead line. Not a letter, nor
space, nor figure, nor comma nor a period
nothing of all innumerable PARTICLES that
enter into the form structure of a daily or
weekly paper-is there that its picking up
and laying down does no; cost cash money
Not revolution of the press, not square
inch of newspaper, that does not cost some-
thing in cash. This should be understood by
the public. Fit is not, its correlIative should
be by the press | do not mean that the press
should abandon its position of being the fore-
most charitable institution in the world. J,
sh"u hold to that for its muuifceut liberalitv.
after purging itself of nine tenths of the daily
swindles practised upon it, will exceed that
Of any other business
"To get rid of this stupendous fraud of
gratuit"us advertising, this cancer. canksr-
call it anything provided you select an epithe.
that will characterize it strong enoueh-I can
prescribe no other rule than this Pnt yolun.
tarily and without any charge any and every-
thing into your paper which you deem advan-
taseous to it in being beneficial to the public
All else exclude, being of advantage to these
who wish to make money upon your capital
and enterprise. Hold your space at its vslue
Fix your rates at fair price for your circula-
tion and adhere tosthem. Fair dealing will
accomplish much more. than foul will at all
times and everywhere"