The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-01-21
NEWSPAPER FAILURES.
wSs, cau,s, So MANY OF Them.

Tn n recent address before the Press AS
sociation of Tennessee, Gen. George =. |
Jones Of the Nashville Uaio" and An'eri- |
can. gave the following truthful hints
obout the causes Of newspaper mortality:
We do too much work without compen-
sation. We pay too much money without
onv return whatever. We establish an
eleemosynary institution at our own ex-
pense. We keep charity school on our
own hook. We conduct business as il we
owe everything 10 the public, and the pub
lie are not indebted TO US u iarthing. We
are proved upon by the sharpers and
innocents alike. We advertise gratuiti-
ously every week, when we should have
the money for it. The general public are
entirely ignorant-probably we ourselves
are not aware of the full extent 10 which
newspapers are burdened by this insidi-
Gus drain upon their resources. II insinu-
ates itself in every conceivable form. 1t
does Il through reporters, through agents,
through correspondents, through editors,
through business managers, through
proprietors and generally, too, with
as much disadvantage TO the pub
lie as 20 the press. There is not
a business, from the dispenser Of ginger
cakes and cider, TO che largest manufac-
tory, which will not advertise with you
gratis-which will not, II you listen to IT,
endeavor TO convince you that It Is your
duty 10 the public 81 do So There Is not
an aspirant for public station-and when
| contemplate the numbers OF these, | eX-
nerience an overwhelming sense OF COM
mingled amazemeut and disgust-trom
constable 10 the Senate of the Union, who
does not couscientiously believe it 10 be
the imperative duty of the press, daily and
weekly to speak, with pen of telescope
power. of his microscopic deservings
Even that army of strollers which intest
the country and the people as sort Of Wis
itation of Providence for our iniquitieS,
from the street-corner seller of prize
candy or magic OIL 10 the operate
imprcssario, will expect YOU 10 write an
indefinite number OF editorials on a three
square advertisement inserted for five days,
changeable daily, without charge. We
are required 10 write up, urge up, and put
through every enterprise, great or small,
that seems 20 have a possible connection
with the public. But we never hear of 9
share Of stock OF of dividend The
church, the state, commerce, industry, art
invention and humbug alike seem 20 regarC
the press as their servitors and TO be ruI
and sustained for their advantage
There is a line of demarkatiOn, in al
these things between public demand, pub
lie utility, newspaper duty and individual
gain. That line should be defined ant
held as in reality it's. the dsdd line Not
letter, nor n space, nor figure, nor com
ma, nor a period, nothing of all the in
Vulnerable particles that enter into tn,
form and structure of daily or weekly
newspapers there that is picked up anC
put down that does not cost cash money. No
a revolution of the press not a square
inch of paper. that does not cost some
thing in cash This should he understood
by the public, Ii it is not, its correlativ,
should be practiced by the press | do no
mean that the press should abandon it
position of being the foremost charitable
institution in the world. 1t should holt
to that, for It's muni6cient liberality, afte
purging itself of nineteen twentieths Of tn
daily swindles practiced upon it, wi
exceed that Of any other business.
To get rid Of this stupendous fraud @
gratuitous advertising, this cancer, cankel
call it anything provided you select a
epithet that will characterize il stron
enough can prescribe no other rule tina
this Put voluntarily and without charg
any and everything into your paper whic
you deem advantageous to it, being bent
fetal TO the public. All else exclude, be
ing Of advantage 10 those who wish t
make money upon your capital and enter
prise Hold your space at its value. Fl
your rates at fair price for your circul;
ton, and adhere 10 them. Fair dealin
will accomplish more than foul, at a
times and everywhere For be it know
that the American press is not vampyr,
10 be constantly sucking the life blood OF
Of the people II has vastly higher mi.
sion-but it should also be known that
will not longer be made the victims of ii
thousands Of vampires that come daily
the counters, in every conceivable garb.
have it, lite-blood incontinently suckC
nWuy