The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-05-07
Newspaper Frauds.


So many country journals, in the whole
South and in this State particularly, have
adopted the "patent inside" or the patent ''out
side' system, that we feel called on to de-
nounce the whole thing as fraud and imposi-
tion upon the public A public which pays its
money and gets no equivalent.
For the information of every one, we pro-
pose briefly to explain this contemplate swim
die, giving brief outline of its origin and
operations. An unprecedented snow-storm a
few years ago visited a portion of the North
west, which interdicted travel for several
weeks, and brought about much privation and
pecuniary sacrifice and want. Many country
publishers in that section, keeping on hand
but small amount of paper stock, soon ex-
hausted their supply, and were threatened with
involuntary suspension In this emergency,
MIR. A. J. Aikens, Milwaukee newspaper
proprietor, was impressed with the idea that
he could extricate these publishers from their
difficulties, and at the same time put money
in his purse" by furnishing ready printed
paper from his establishment. Making the
proposition to various parties it was gratefully
accepted, and the enterprise proved very re-
munerative. This was the origin of patent
outsides."
Thus accidentally conceived and carried to
financial success, the plan was speedily seized
upon by enterprising men as way to fortune,
and a perfect system was organized and to-day
they have in their grasp the independence of
thirteen hundred publishers.
The advantages claimed by the auxiliary
system are the superior quality of material,
beauty of Typography, excellence of reading
matter, and the cheap price of ready printed
sheets over those wholly printed at home.
These advantages are admitted; but can only
be addressed to printer without trade; a
publisher without pocket-book; an editor
without brains, or man without professional
pride.
The objections to the system are manifold,
but we will refer only to the more prominent:
First, the use Of "patent outsides" is unjust to
the printer 1t has already deprived of en-
ployment fifteen hundred journeymen-m
who have spent years in acquiring an art only
to be cast adrift upon the world to seek anoth-
er livelihood. Second, it is injuring the pub
Usher. The printing of these sheets is in the
hands of advertising agents whose position
enables them to contract for advertisements at
rates upon which any publisher would starve.
The value of advertising space is thus depre-
ciated, and the profits curtailed in proportion.
1t weakens and destroys the publishers enter
prise publishing paper, the typographical
appearance of which can not be uniform, and
is sometimes wretched, by contrast, he loses
pride; and, circumscribed in limits he is often
obliged to defer or entirely omit important
matters directly interesting his readers, by
which he loses both prestige and patronage.
Third, it is prejudicial to the editor The
prime requisite of an editor does not consist
simply in his ability to write well; his strength
lies in his power to discern the tastes of his
readers and meet their desires. But the "pat-
ent outsides" being beyond his control, fire.
quently contain matter distasteful to himself,
and utterly unsuitable to the requirements of
his readers. This destroys the individuality
and renders fruitless the knowledge that the
successful editor must possess and employ.
Fourth, it is disgraceful to journalism. With
few exceptions, the poorest edited, the shah
best looking, and worst remunerated papers
are to be found on the "patent outside list.
And we have yet to discover real frst-class
journal which uses the sheets. The argument
of cheapness advocated so strenuousy and
plausibly by its supporters is the cause Of its
employment by most publishers and the secret
of its success but it has fastened many men
of small capital and no experience into the
newspaper business only to fasten them in the
meshes of financial ruin. A thousand papers
suspended in 1872 whose failure can be attrlb-
uted to this pernicious system.
1t seems to us unnecessary to extend the
argument any further, although much more
might be said. Every editor in the State
should give the system the stamp of his disap-
robation.-Ab6eville Medium.